Govt Pressures NGOs to Declare Sources of Ksh185 Billion Funding

Interior PS Raymond Omollo speaks at the launch of the 2021/2022 Annual NGO Sector Report at KICC on June 5, 2023.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo speaks at the launch of the 2021/2022 Annual NGO Sector Report at KICC on June 5, 2023.
Photo
Raymond Omollo

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo on Monday, June 5, pressured Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to declare their sources of funding to show compliance and promote levels of transparency.

Speaking during the launch of the 2021/2022 Annual NGO Sector Report, Omollo wondered why only 30 per cent of the 12,162 registered NGOs complied and filed their returns.

He pointed out that the worrying statistics hinted that some organisations were involved in questionable activities.

“You must embrace transparency in your funding sources as well as expenditure. Your financial records should be an open testament to your integrity and reflect your dedication to ethical practices," he noted.

Interior PS Raymond Omollo (centre) presides over the launch of the 2021/2022 Annual NGO Sector Report at KICC on June 5, 2023.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo (centre) presides over the launch of the 2021/2022 Annual NGO Sector Report at KICC on June 5, 2023.
Photo
Raymond Omollo

He noted that the sector players ought to honour their mandate by filing their returns as the government works to create a conducive environment for all parties involved.

"Those that have not yet registered must also formalise their status as the first critical step towards ensuring accountability, transparency and legitimacy in their operations," Omollo pointed out.

According to the 68-page report seen by Kenyans.co.ke, NGOs spent a total of Ksh185.5 billion in Kenya. Out of this, Ksh118 billion was spent on project implementation.

The report indicated that Kenya received 86 per cent of the funds (Ksh102 billion) while only 14 per cent (Ksh16 billion) was utilised in other countries.

Some of the sectors that NGOs focused on included health (Ksh31 billion), children (Ksh10 billion), education (Ksh10 billion) and disaster management (Ksh8 billion). 

Other key sectors involved agriculture (Ksh6 billion), environment (Ksh4 billion), refugees (Ksh3.7 billion) and water (Ksh3 billion).

The majority of the NGOs registered within the year (141) preferred to operate in Nairobi County, followed by Kisumu and Mombasa at 73 and 59 respectively.

At the same time, Nairobi County had the highest number of project implementers (1,192), followed by Kisumu with 421, Nakuru (385), and Kiambu (372).

President William Ruto gives a speech at the Kenya National Drama Festival State Concert at State House, Nairobi, on June 2, 2023.
President William Ruto gives a speech at the Kenya National Drama Festival State Concert at State House, Nairobi, on June 2, 2023.
Kenyans.co.ke