Red Cross urges State to soften stance on NGOs' funding

Kenya Red Cross has asked the Jubilee government to consider efforts made by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to improve lives in communities before cracking the whip on them.

Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet said President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration should investigate organisations that are not benefiting locals before pushing for the 15 per cent foreign funding threshold.

Mr Gullet said the move to amend the law on NGOs to force them to reveal their source of funds as well as limit their foreign funding would adversely affect individuals who receive support from them.

He added the Government should not look at organisations as a whole but instead deal with individual agencies. "It is fair to deal with organisations affected individually. The Government should look deeply into their role in development before coming up with the regulations that might affect their entire operations," he said.

The statement by Gullet comes days after a heated debate by both the Government and the Opposition over the humanitarian organisations, with the ruling coalition marshalling for a major onslaught against them.

The move to amend the Public Benefits Act 2013 will increase oversight by the Government and also force them to reveal their source of funds. Gullet said Red Cross has been on an expedition to generate its own income by investing in various sectors like the hospitality industry.

Gullet was speaking on the sidelines of the global communications forum, where more than 70 humanitarian organisations across the world are meeting in Nairobi.