The Public Benefit Regulatory Authority has forwarded files to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to launch a probe into NGOs operating in the country. 

This follows ongoing investigations into 16 NGOs allegedly receiving foreign funding to support anti-government protests. 

Addressing the press on Monday, the authority’s chairperson, Mwambu Mabonga, stated that out of the 16 NGOs reported to have received money from the Ford Foundation, only three are registered with both the Registrar of Societies and Companies.

This comes only after last week, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing' Oei, in a letter to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, claimed that some of these organizations have been at the center of anti-government protests.

With anti-government protests entering their fifth week, the Public Benefit Regulatory Authority (PBO) has begun cracking down on 16 NGOs accused by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of being funded by the Ford Foundation to support the anti-finance bill protests and subsequent mobilizations.

On Monday, the regulator announced it had forwarded a report and the names of certain organizations to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further investigation. 

The PBO claims that out of the 16 NGOs under scrutiny, only three are registered with both the Registrar of Societies and Companies. 

These include: Kenya Human Rights Commission, Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco), and Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative.

Mwambu Mabonga, Chairman of the PBO, stated, "The Authority has forwarded to the DCI for further investigations, PBOs that are currently in operation without obtaining requisite registration."

The authority alleges that these NGOs have been receiving substantial funds without proper accountability, running unauthorized bank accounts, and implementing unquantified projects.

Mabonga added, "Some receive millions of projects without a single project."

This address follows reports that some NGOs are allegedly behind the recent protests.

On July 19, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’ Oei, in a letter to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, listed 16 NGOs purportedly receiving funds from the Ford Foundation to the tune of Kshs. 752 million between April 2023 and May 2024, with an unexplained expedited funding of Kshs. 194 million over the last month alone.

PS Korir Sing' Oei stated, "We have asked Ford Foundation to give us details on the grantee, projects they are doing."

Mwambu Mabonga, Chairman of the PBO, remarked, "Ford is a foreign organization we will engage through Foreign Affairs."

The Ford Foundation has denied any involvement, emphasizing transparency in all its activities. 

Meanwhile, the authority has warned that those found culpable will face the full extent of the law, insisting that all organizations involved in public benefit activities in Kenya must either obtain public benefit status or register with the authority and provide yearly audited financial records.