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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have many NGOs in this country, most of which are doing a good job. However, some NGOs are not doing a good job. Therefore, this Policy Paper has come at a very appropriate time. Non-governmental organisations operating in this country should be guided through a legal framework, so that they can serve Kenyans efficiently. Like Government institutions, NGOs need to be transparent and accountable. They should show good financial management and good governance. Non-governmental organisations come into the country with a lot of money but nobody knows how much it is. We also do not see their audited accounts, and yet they are very critical of the Government. We expect NGOs to show the way forward by being transparent and accountable, just as they expect the Government to be. Some of them are doing very good work, particulary those located in remote areas where the Government resources do not reach people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you look at the number of NGOs registered in this country, you will find that if they were working very well as expected, we would have many problems solved. However, on the contrary, the impact of NGOs is very little, compared to what we expect and the money they get. Some of them have so much money that they get tempted to do things which are not right. I know of an NGO which had so much money that it started loaning out some of it to women groups and charging them very high interest rates. It even reached a point where some of them were almost being auctioned because they could not repay the loans at the high interest rates. That is not right because most of them are not supposed to operate as financial institutions. However, because we do not have a legal framework for them to operate under, they do whatever they feel like doing. This Sessional Paper has come at the right time because it will help NGOs in this country to operate well. There are many NGOs in this country which are supposedly working for orphans, yet their impact is not felt. The NGOs go around raising money and masquerading to be supporting orphans, yet the orphans are suffering. Therefore, the Government should also have a way of monitoring and evaluating the activities of NGOs so that they do not go on doing what they want, yet they have money to assist the needy. Some of the NGOs have very good intentions. There are many NGOs which are registered in Nairobi, yet they claim to be running their affairs in Busia. If you tried to look for the NGOs in Busia, you would not find them. Therefore, we need to have a monitoring and evaluating process so as to know whether they really exist, and if they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. As it is now, most NGOs are doing what they want and nobody seems to know what they are up to. Many NGOs, countrywide, are concentrated in particular areas but they hardly exist in others. You will find that areas where NGOs do not exist, are quite needy. For a long time, many NGOs were based in the coast region for touristic ventures. Many NGOs are concentrated in Nairobi so that they can enjoy good life and the facilities available. Some of them do not carry out any projects in remote areas because they do not want to suffer, yet they claim to be on a helping-the-poor mission. 2118 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 13, 2006 With a legal framework in place, they will be guided and will not be tempted to indulge in corrupt practices. Some of the boards running NGOs, for instance, in the rural areas, have no capability. For NGOs to make good contributions, we need to have boards which can add value to them in terms of activities, and not just sit and get allowances. It is not a question of allowances, but a question of their input and how well they serve the country. We should not just be a transit area where they come to get employed."
}