The National Council for NGOs has today applauded the commencement of the Public Benefits Organisations (PBO) act without amendments. The act was operationalised by the Devolution and Planning CS Mwangi Kiunjuri on Friday. The act seeks to change the NGOs to federations and also raises accountability standards in the sector. This will ensure that the NGOs get to collaborate with the government in business and also partake in applying for tenders. The act also incorporates new ideas in it that will ensure democracy is practised. Unlike before the Council will hold its elections after every five years. Funding of NGOs which has been a thorny issue with accusations coming from within the Organisation on embezzlement.
The act clearly outlines that each NGO will be required to file returns at the end of half year and annually. It also spells out that audits will be conducted. According to the National Chairman of the NGOs council, Stephen Cheboi,”As a Council, we are equal to the task of transitioning.”
The council also emphasised on the need to have more youth based NGOs registering as many of them have been left out yet the act is keen on catering for needs of the women and youth in the country, considering they form a vital part of development in the nation.
Chair Stephen Cheboi mentioned that “The implementation of the act will enable us to contribute more to the economy of the country.” Currently, the NGOs hire over 350,000 workers both in formal and informal sectors. It is expected that the number is likely to go even higher with the enactment as it has made registration of NGOs easier.
OXFAM from Great Britain has expressed interest in moving its headquarters to Kenya.
The NGO council called for Peace as we approach the election period and applauded the just concluded party celebrations held in Nairobi and Mombasa.