Nairobi,KENYA:The acting interior cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has suspended the de-registration and any legal action towards the two NGO’s that had been earlier marked for legal action the African centre for Open governance and the Kenya Human rights commission.
In a letter to the NGO coordination board executive Matiang’i directs Fazul Mohammed, to suspend any action on the said organizations until further notice.
“By copy of this letter , I direct the principal secretary , ministry of interior and coordination of national government to immediately form an inclusive and representative committee to work with the NGO’s coordination board to review the compliance status of the two organizations” Reads parts of the letter
Earlier KRA officials had raided the offices of the African centre for open governance in Lavington, Nairobi .
The said NGO’s woes began on Monday after Fazul Mohamed wrote a letter calling for legal action to be taken against the two organizations Kenya human rights commission and AfriCOG over alleged offences committed in contravention of the NGO’s governance act.
Meanwhile, civil society Organisations at the Coast have expressed their disappointment over the recent de-registration of the Kenya Human Rights Commission and AfriCOG.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights offices in Mombasa, the chairman of the Coast Civil Society Organizations chairperson Patrick Ochieng noted that the move is aimed at interfering with the liberties of the organizations and denial of their constitutional rights.
The chair said both the two organizations are world renowned human rights crusaders due to their advocacy programmes in promoting human rights, open democratic governance and enhancing social justice justice.
“This move is aimed at curtailing our freedom as civil society organizations. As CSOs we shall rally before these organizations.” He insisted.
He accused the government for having a hand in the drama on claims that it has trampled on its promise of protecting CSOs.
Additional reporting by Peter Kombe.