The NGO Coordination Board has launched an onslaught on AfriCOG barely 24 hours after de-registering Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
The Board’s Executive Director Mohammed Fazul on Tuesday wrote to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) directing them to shut down the NGO as it is operating illegally.
In the letter addressed to DCI boss Ndegwa Muhoro, Fazul said AfriCOG is not a registered NGO.
“The board has noted that AfriCOG is not registered as required by the law. The purpose of this letter is to urge your office to move with speed to close down the operations,” stated the NGO Board executive director.
He further urged the DCI to arrest the directors of the said NGO and arraign them in court.
Fazul also ordered that all operations conducted by AfriCOG cease until it obtains a certificate of registration in line with the NGO Coordination Act.
Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has been directed to freeze the NGO’s accounts.
AfriCOG was at the centre of 2013 Presidential petition pitting President Uhuru Kenyatta against Raila Odinga.
On Monday, Fazul banned KHRC which is chaired by law Scholar Prof Makau Mutua.
The NGO was accused of operating four bank accounts illegally, tax evasion (sh100 million), employing expatriates without valid working permits and misappropriation of sh1.2 billion.
“KHRC cannot account for sh1.2 billion that was in the account by October4, 2016 in accordance to the NGOs Coordination Act 1990,” read part of the letter.
“Your organization has employed expatriates without valid work permits contrary to the Immigration Act 2011.”
KHRC Executive Director George Kegoro hit back at Fazul and termed the attack as a result of political witch-hunt by Jubilee regime.
“The timing why this is coming up is obviously politics. We are in a delicate political period; we are engaged in matters that are politically significant; we have taken positions about the recent elections and the violence that has followed that election. It is obviously something that the political establishment does not approve of,” said Kegoro.
In the past month, the NGO Board also de-registered Key Empowerment Foundation run by Rosemary Odinga [Raila Odinga youngest daughter].
He said the NGO has never been registered and has been receiving money from George Soros Foundation.
At the time of the Odinga-allied NGO de-registration; Fazul targeted sh530 million donated by George Soros Foundation.
Kegoro said the board is being used by government to frustrate their operations.