Outgoing Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar at a past event. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Outgoing Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar has slammed the national government for allegedly attempting to muzzle Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and human rights groups.
In an interview with the Nation, Omar said the purge on NGOs is suspicious, adding that the constitution provides for free operation of human rights groups.“It raises eyebrows when the government wakes up and tries to shut down human rights groups for political or whichever reasons,” said Omar on Wednesday, as quoted by the daily.He said human rights groups should be allowed to operate freely so long as they adhere to the law.Omar said Kenya is among the few countries where human rights groups enjoy freedom, adding that it would be bad if the same rights and privileges are withdrawn or limited.On Monday, the NGO Coordination Board deregistered Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).The Fazul Mahamed-led Board accused the commission of failing to remit taxes amounting to Sh100 million to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).The Board also claimed that KHRC has employed expatriates.On Tuesday, the Board also called for the arrest of Africog directors, claiming they were operating illegally.However, Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i on Wednesday ordered the NGO’s board to review the operations of the KHRC and Africog and make a decision in three months’ time.