Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma has hit out at NGOs for failing to take part in community projects despite donor funding for such activities.
This comes even as residents alleged that many of these NGOs are briefcase and are doing little to alleviate suffering in the regions.
Ranguma questioned the presence of numerous NGOs in Kisumu, despite the high level of HIV-Aids, poverty and disaster scourge in the county.
Speaking during the County El~Nino Disaster Preparedness forum on Tuesday, he called for urgent audit of NGOs in the county for transparency and accountability.
Ranguma said most of the organisations failed to attend the disaster meeting to help in planning to avert impacts of the expected E-Nino.
“It is necessary to bring transparency to streamlining the industry to rid out bogus organisations in the county,” the governor said.
Only Kenya Red Cross, Sana and Plan International attended the stakeholders meeting yet there are about 650 NGOs operating in Kisumu.
He said most NGOs officials are busy building hotels and doing businesses instead of using the funds on the intended purposes.
“I very worried that in such meetings these organisations cannot attend yet donor agencies continue to pump millions of shillings in the fight of disaster-related initiatives,” Ranguma said.
Ranguma warned those organisations without proper structures that they will be deregistered if they cannot deliver services to the residents.
He supported the bill to regulate the industry, Public Benefit Organisations Act 2013 saying it will not affect NGOs working in the development sector.
“We are aware that some have been founded to fetch money for families. It will eliminate such organisations from the industry,” he said.
He said that the proposed bill will give provision for setting up offices to monitor NGOs performance.
“These NGOs are bringing Sh18.7billion in the of name promoting development activities yet pocketing the money,” he said.
He added that about 400 of the NGOs focus on education with only 22 percent of Sh18.7 billion allocated for education in 2011/212.
Ranguma said they will consolidate and audit all the organisations operating in the region speed service delivery to the people. He asked the NGOs to work with county governments to constitute proper policies and effective implementation.
He added “This will ensure that these organisations provide services that meet needs of the people and bridge inequalities in the region. NGOs need to introduce projects that will promote, education, food security and general development of areas they are operating in.”
Ranguma also asked the NGOs to address early pregnancy cases in the county, saying the rising incidences are worrying and derailing the development of the girl child.