The Kenyan government has started the process of de-registering 957 aid organisations by for auditing irregularities, amid allegations that $226m (£150m) has gone missing.
The official government watchdog for NGOs said some had embezzled or diverted donor funds, while others were suspected of money-laundering and financing terrorism.
The organisations face deregistration after failing to account for more than Sh25.6 billion received from donors, among other malpractices.
Last December the Kenyan government froze the accounts of 510 NGOs, prompting critics to accuse the government of punishing those who’d opposed a tough new security bill aimed at combating Islamist militancy.
NGOs Coordination Board Chief Executive Officer Fazul Mohamed said some of the NGOs have been operating two sets of accounts in order to hide from the government what they get in donations.
“They have two sets of accounts – one for donors and another which is correct with less money going to the government,” said Mr Mohamed.
Among the organisations that have not accounted for donations are the Kenya Human Rights Commission (Sh1.2 billion), the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation (Sh64 million) and Africa Development Solutions (Sh9.7 billion).
Here is an extract of Thursday morning’s press statement to the press:
