Order probe on NGO board executive director

Fazul Mohammed

Non-Governmental Organisations Coordination Board Executive Director Fazul Mohammed had, by early morning Wednesday, intensified his misinformed action on NGOs that the Jubilee administration is not comfortable with. That discomfort arises from being challenged to be accountable to the people of Kenya.

The NGO Board, the police and officers from Kenya Revenue Authority Wednesday raided the offices of the African Centre for Governance (AfriCOG) in Lavington, Nairobi. By then, Amnesty International and the United Nations had condemned the de-registration of Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and AfriCOG, terming the move unlawful.

Indeed, the manner in which the NGO Co-ordination Board approached the whole issue is suspect. The public and international community read a sinister motive in it. Also suspect is the sudden about-turn by acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, who yesterday asked the board to immediately cease action against the two NGOs to give a probe team time to do its work.

The court's action in calling off the intimidation against the NGOs was timely.

One thing is clear though. Fazul Mohammed’s competence and academic credentials have been questioned before.

He has consistently acted in a manner that brings disrepute to the office he holds. Even as the probe on AfriCOG is continuing, Dr Matiang'i should initiate a probe on Mohammed to determine his suitability as the board's executive director.