PBO Act to eliminate ‘briefcase’ NGOs, says State official on review

The government has commenced the process of reviewing regulations to streamline the Public Benefits Organisations (PBOs) operations in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Public Benefits Organisations Regulatory Authority (PBORA) – formerly the NGOs Co-ordination Board – Dr Laxmana Kiptoo, said the operationalisation of the PBO Act aims to create an environment that promotes a transparent, accountable and more organised PBO sector.
The draft PBO Regulations 2025, presently going through public participation, are intended to give full effect to the PBO Act.
Further, Kiptoo highlighted that the new law is expected to provide a comprehensive and transparent framework for the registration and regulation of civil society groups.
He noted that some NGOs have been previously accused of operating in opaqueness and misappropriating donor funds.
Kiptoo claimed that such organisations, operating as ‘briefcase’ NGOs, develop funding proposals from the people and later get donor funding, but their work does not translate to anything on the ground.
“These regulations are meant to make sure that PBOs that operate within the country are accountable to the people of Kenya,” he said.
Speaking during a public participation on the PBO draft regulations in Kisumu town yesterday, he noted that his organisation has received complaints from the county governments indicating that some NGOs enter into partnerships with them to support implementation of massive development projects, particularly in the health and education sectors, but the deals end up not materialising.
“The organisations trigger huge funding proposals for mega projects, yet nothing tangible can be seen on the ground. The new regulations we have proposed will streamline such issues,” he added.
The PBO Act, Kiptoo stated, also seeks to ensure self-regulations for the non-state organisations and improvise ways for them to generate local funding, especially in the wake of various organisations facing funding cuts by donors.
Easy registration
“We are looking at having mechanisms of how organisations can be able to engage in income-generating activities for them to have local funding that will ensure sustainability,” he stated.
On the PBOs registration process, he said the Act seeks to shorten the time of registration from the current 90 to 60 days and extend the length of filing annual returns from three to six months.
A section of the civil society organisations has welcomed the review of the laws, terming it a great milestone in the PBO and civil society sector.
Marriam Abdala, a representative of Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative (TEAM), said implementation of the PBO Act will ensure the organisations are transparent and accountable to the public in their work.
“We want to say that this is a great change that is coming about to both the NGOs and community-based organisations. There should be openness in everything, including the resources we receive and utilise while engaging our communities at the grassroots level,” said Abdala.