Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid whose organization has been cleared to monitor the August polls. Photo/ the-star.co.ke
A Mombasa-based NGO initially blacklisted by the government has been cleared to monitor the August general election.Haki Africa, according to its Executive Director Hussein Khalid will join the selected civil society group in overseeing the poll.In May 2015, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the withdrawal of operating licenses for three Coast-based NGO's- Haki Africa, Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI) and Agency for Peace and Development over alleged terrorism links.The three were shut following a clump down on civil society groups accused of operating outside the law and financing terrorism.They were among organizations gazetted by the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet in April 2015 on suspicion of supporting al-Shabaab activities.The decision to publish their names was taken following the April 2015 Garissa University attack in which 148 people were killed.The NGO Board, then, accused the civil society group of opening and operating bank accounts without the necessary authority.The government claimed the money received by the group was sent to individuals in Somalia, raising questions on what the finances were to do at a time when Kenya was fighting al-Shabaab in Somalia.However, the court lifted the ban in November 2015 and ordered the organizations' licenses returned."Haki Africa is committed to overseeing a free and fair election," Khalid said on Tuesday at the organization's offices in Mombasa.He said Haki Africa has a good reputation contrary to claims by the government that it aids terrorism."It is our hope that no one will be found on the wrong side of the law. In the event that anyone is caught, due process will be followed," Khalid said.The organisation's accreditation was given by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)."The IEBC, National Cohesion and Integration Commission and community leaders should demystify community concerns and leadership and the electoral process so we can conduct free, fair and peaceful elections."