North Rift coordinator for Kenya National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Agatha Mukami addressing the press in Eldoret on August 17, 2017. [Photo: hivisasa.com]
The Kenya National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders has warned that recent incidences in which the NGO coordination board attempted to de-registrar and shutdown two top civil society groups risks taking the country back to the dark era.
Coalition's North Rift coordinator Agatha Mukami while condemning the targeting of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCoOG) asked the Fazul Mohammed-led board to respect the constitution that provides for the right to administrative action.
Addressing the press in Eldoret, Thursday, Mukami said civil society groups play an important role in promoting law and accountability hence should be allowed to operate freely without hindrance and harassment from government institutions.
"Civil society groups sacrificed a lot to get to where they are today and we would not even think of going back to those days," noted Mukami.
"This is why we want Fazul to exercise caution and keenness when making decisions touching on civil society operations in this country," she added.
The NGO Coordination Board under the leadership of Fazul Mohammed had earlier this week deregistered KHRC and directed the shutdown of AfriCOG over claims of non compliance before Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i suspended the decision and ordered for the formation of a special committee to look into claims leveled against the two NGOs.