Kenyan NGO's face deregistration for transgressing security regulations

"We do not mind if they are national or international. We will act in accordance with the evidence we have gathered against them"- NGOs coordination board boss Joshua Leparashau, pictured top right

The chairman of the NGO's Co-ordination Board, Joshua S. Leparashau, has warned that the board will not hesitate to take firm and decisive action against non-governmental organizations that infringe on the country's security regulations and undermine national cohesion.

Blacklisted

He declared that errant NGO's would be deregistered and blacklisted and it was upon them to act according to the law in order to survive.

Addressing the media, Leparashau stressed that NGO's must strictly work within the framework of the laid down objectives since as a government agency, his board was giving everybody an enabling environment to operate without favor.

"But if you go wrong in a way that undermines state security, we will take dtrastc action against you based on the evidence on the ground. We will do so once we establish that you have jeopardized peace, and acted contrary to the laid down security conduct", said Leparashau, a former chairman of the Kerio Valley Development Authority in Eldoret town of Kenya's Rift Valley province.

"We do not mind if you are national or international. We will act in accordance with the evidence we have gathered against you", the chairman stated in his tough warning against NGO's.

Evil mission

The board, he asserted, will not sit down and watch as some NGO's lose track and embark on a mission of threatening security, considering that cases of terrorism and money laundering had been rife in some parts of the country.

"The security of the state is paramount. It is a matter of life and death and cannot be taken for granted under whatever circumstances", averred Leparashau.

NGO's, he contended, should complement the governments role of nation building and should not diverge from their objectives.

"If  it is health, water, agriculture, children or human rights programmes NGO's are engaged in, the all-important thing is for them to stick to their programmes without using them as a bridge to undermine peace, and by extension, the security of the state", stated Leparashau.

He announced that the board will soon partner with county governments and all NGO's in formulating a master plan to avoid duplication of roles in these sectors.

"Our aim is to thrash out any contentious issues. We want NGO's to work with county governments in development matters", emphasized Leparashau.

Whip

"It is imperative that county governments be involved in all projects on the ground so that development is quickened for the good of the local people and the country at large", the chairman concluded as the Kenya government cracked the whip against errant non-governmental organizations in this East African country.