The Public Benefit Regulatory Authority (PBRA) has requested that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) conduct an investigation into NGOs currently operating in Kenya. The regulator alleges that some of these organizations are functioning without the necessary registration documents, in violation of the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act and Kenyan law.
On Monday, PBRA chairperson Mwambu Mabongah announced that a list of these organizations has been submitted to the DCI for further investigation. Mabongah stated, “The authority has forwarded to the DCI for further investigations PBOs that are currently operating without obtaining the requisite registration.”
He accused these NGOs of receiving substantial funds without proper accountability, operating unauthorized bank accounts, and managing projects that lack transparency and accountability. Additionally, Mabongah noted that out of 16 NGOs reportedly funded by the Ford Foundation, only three are registered with both the registrar of societies and the registrar of companies.
Mabongah’s statements follow allegations that some NGOs may be involved in recent protests in Kenya. Last week, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei wrote to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, expressing concerns that some Ford Foundation-funded organizations have been central to anti-government demonstrations.
Sing’oei indicated that Kenya is worried about the unexplained expenditure of millions of shillings by these organizations in the past month.”It is noteworthy that several of your Grantees received a total of US$ 5.78 million (approximately Sh752 million) between April 2023 and May 2024 – with unexplained expedited funding amounting to US$ 1.49 M (approximately Sh194 million) – over the last month alone,” Sing’oei said in a letter dated July 18, 2024.
“Deeply concerning is that most of the Grantees have been at the centre of the Anti-FinanceBill protests and the subsequent anarchic mobilizations that have sought to upend the peace and security of the state.”
He asked the organisation to provide full details of their Grantees over the last year, the programmes approved (particularly over the last three months), budgets for each project, the amounts so far disbursed and what is pipelined for disbursement.
“Furnish us with Reports from your Grantees detailing the activities carried out, the cost of these activities and their beneficiaries,” Sing’oei stated.
The PS also wants the Ford Foundation to share a report on the Ford Foundation’s compliance with its Non-Lobbying Policy or a statement that this policy is inapplicable to its activities in the country.
Kenya at the same time wants the Ford Foundation to prescribe any sanctions it will impose for breaches of the law or their internal policies.
Ford has, however, denied any involvement, emphasising transparency in all its activities.
The information, it stated, is public and “readily accessible” on its website.
“As a charitable foundation with a global presence, our grant-making is transparent and readily available on our website,” it said.
This, it has added, includes the database of where its funds are channelled to as well as the “highlights from our rich history in East Africa and around the world”.
The Foundation also reiterated that while it supports the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, denounced any acts that advocate violence.
“We repudiate any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community,” the statement reads.
