25 Kenyan CSOs demand review of anti-terrorism law

Shaimaa Hefzy

In a joint statement, 25 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kenya have given the National Assembly a one-week ultimatum to expunge part of a Miscellaneous Amendment Act that has given the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) more powers to control CSOs.

“Kenya wants peace, Kenyans do not want to be monitored or threatened by one entity,” the statement read as published on Twitter.

The Act, which was passed by the MPs recently, has amended the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and given the NCTC more power to regulate all CSOs and international NGOs that are doing Counter Violence Extremism (CVE) work.

According to the Act, “the NCTC shall be an approving and reporting institution for all civil society organizations and international non-governmental organization engaged in preventing and countering extremism and radicalization through counter-messaging or public outreach, and disengagement and reintegration of radicalization individuals.”

CSOs comprising Haki Africa, Muslims for Human Rights, Human Rights Agenda and Manyatta Youth among others, said the new changes in the law undermine their work.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said as CSOs their mandate is to operate devoid of government influence, control or manipulation.

“We want to maintain our independence. We are not ready to be controlled or manipulated by state agencies. We have developed policies and assisted government in many ways, we therefore, do not understand this mischief and mistrust by the NCTC,” said Khalid.

He said if NCTC is allowed to exercise the powers to control CSOs, the country will loose its democracy.

“We want the specific amendment touching on CSOs in the Miscellaneous Amendment Act to be expunged in totality because it adds more power to NCTC. We need to seriously look into these issues, so that we can take this country into the right path of democracy,” he said.

Nichola Songora of Manyatta Youth CBO said they will be moving to court and also hold demonstration to oppose the new Act.

“This new law seeks to silence us as CSOs. We are therefore ready to move to court, to picket and hold demonstrations to have the amendments expunged,” said Songora.