NGOs that were de-registered during a clean up exercise by the NGOs Coordination Board have been given a lifeline that could see them resume operations in ongoing consultations.
Speaking in Nakuru, the board's Executive Director Mutuma Nkanata revealed that they were ready to give the affected organisations their operational licenses upon meeting the set requirements.
"We are having discussions with development partners and the private sector. Those who have been de-registered have been given a grace period to register. We are ready to give them the operational documents if they comply.
"Since June 2018 many NGOs have been registered and in fact, we have registered more than 200 new NGOs this week to operate in various parts of our country," he stated.
Nkanata noted that the consultations were crucial in that they got to engage with a majority of NGOs and understand the challenges they were facing and this, in turn, helped the board to develop policies for their operation.
"There is some level of mistrust and we want to understand the challenges they are facing and why some are not filing annual returns. We have embarked on a plan to reconcile the NGO sector with the Government.
"The board is reviewing the actions that could have contributed to the damaged relations. We are committed to providing a conducive environment for NGOs in our register, as well as those seeking to be reinstated," he added.
In the last financial year, 2,776 NGOs spent a total of Sh153 billion on projects in the entire country. He acknowledged that a total of Ksh9.6 billion was spent by the 1,140 NGOs on projects in the Big Four areas in the South and Central Rift counties.
“One of the board’s mandates is to advise NGOs to align their projects and programmes to the national development plan of our country. I am happy to note that you have started to align your programmes (with the Big Four agenda)” he conveyed.
Nkanata met representatives of Baringo, Bomet, Kajiado, Kericho, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok and Samburu counties.
