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Kenya 'deregisters' NGOs in anti-terror clampdown | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Kenya has deregistered 510 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including 15 accused of links with terrorism, an official has said. | |
The government has also frozen their bank accounts and revoked the work permits of foreign employees. | The government has also frozen their bank accounts and revoked the work permits of foreign employees. |
The move follows a heated debate in Kenya over a controversial new security bill aimed at fighting militants. | The move follows a heated debate in Kenya over a controversial new security bill aimed at fighting militants. |
The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group has been increasingly targeting Kenya for attack. | The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group has been increasingly targeting Kenya for attack. |
The organisations had been de-registered because of their failure to submit financial records, said Henry Ochido, the deputy head of the government-appointed NGO Co-ordination Board, which oversees their activities. | The organisations had been de-registered because of their failure to submit financial records, said Henry Ochido, the deputy head of the government-appointed NGO Co-ordination Board, which oversees their activities. |
Fifteen are suspected of financing "terrorism", Mr Ochido told the BBC. | Fifteen are suspected of financing "terrorism", Mr Ochido told the BBC. |
The decision is bound to cause an uproar in Kenya, where many fear that the government is using the threat posed by al-Shabab to curb democratic freedoms, reports the BBC's Wanyama Chebusiri from the capital, Nairobi. | The decision is bound to cause an uproar in Kenya, where many fear that the government is using the threat posed by al-Shabab to curb democratic freedoms, reports the BBC's Wanyama Chebusiri from the capital, Nairobi. |
Many of the 510 appear to be aid agencies and charities which failed to provide financial audit returns, AFP news agency reports. | Many of the 510 appear to be aid agencies and charities which failed to provide financial audit returns, AFP news agency reports. |
Several of them seem to be Christian organisations, orphanages or groups working in the areas of health and development, it adds. | Several of them seem to be Christian organisations, orphanages or groups working in the areas of health and development, it adds. |
They included international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, Kenya's private Daily Nation newspaper reports. | They included international medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, Kenya's private Daily Nation newspaper reports. |
"The NGOs with accounting issues can only be allowed to operate if they successfully go through a thorough vetting process. Otherwise, they will remain deregistered indefinitely," Fazul Mahamed, the executive director of the board, is quoted by Kenya's privately owned Standard newspaper as saying. | "The NGOs with accounting issues can only be allowed to operate if they successfully go through a thorough vetting process. Otherwise, they will remain deregistered indefinitely," Fazul Mahamed, the executive director of the board, is quoted by Kenya's privately owned Standard newspaper as saying. |
Last week, Kenya's parliament passed a bill which gave security and intelligence agencies wide-ranging powers, including: | Last week, Kenya's parliament passed a bill which gave security and intelligence agencies wide-ranging powers, including: |
Al-Shabab has killed 64 people in two attacks in the north-eastern Mandera region since last month. | Al-Shabab has killed 64 people in two attacks in the north-eastern Mandera region since last month. |
Non-Muslims were singled out and shot dead in an attack on quarry workers and bus commuters. | Non-Muslims were singled out and shot dead in an attack on quarry workers and bus commuters. |
Last year, 67 people were killed when four gunmen took over the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi. | Last year, 67 people were killed when four gunmen took over the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi. |
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the government will not "flinch" in the campaign to defeat the militants. | Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the government will not "flinch" in the campaign to defeat the militants. |
Kenya has more than 3,000 registered NGOs, the Daily Nation quotes an official as saying. | Kenya has more than 3,000 registered NGOs, the Daily Nation quotes an official as saying. |