The Public Benefit Regulatory Authority has submitted a report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), highlighting concerns about certain organizations operating without the necessary registration. According to the authority’s chairperson, Mwambu Mabonga, this move aims to scrutinize Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs) that are suspected of receiving unaccounted funds.
Mwambu Mabonga emphasized the significance of this step, noting that the DCI will determine the course of action following their investigation. “The authority has forwarded the necessary notes to the DCI for further investigations into PBOs operating without the required registration and receiving potentially unaccounted funds,” Mabonga stated.
He clarified that the authority’s role does not extend to investigating criminal activities within these organizations. “It is not our mandate to investigate the criminal aspects; hence, we have forwarded our recommendations to the DCI, and we are confident they will provide us with the way forward,” he added.
For transparency, Mabonga pointed out that out of the 16 organizations listed by Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei from the State Department for Foreign Affairs, only three are registered under the Public Benefit Organization Act 2013: the Kenya Human Rights Commission, SHOFCO, and Transform Empowerment for Action. The other organizations are registered with the Registrar of Societies and Companies.
Regarding the Ford Foundation, Mabonga distanced the authority from it, explaining that it is registered under an international treaty with the host country, overseen by the State Department for Foreign Affairs. “Ford Foundation is not registered with us but under an international treaty, which is why the PS for foreign affairs addressed the issue,” Mabonga clarified.
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