News by email Donate

Suggestions

kenya-solider-main_article_image.jpg
REX/Zhang Chen
World News

Kenya terror laws hit Christian NGOs

New 'anti-terror laws' have allowed the government to deregister the groups, freeze their bank accounts and remove the work permits of foreign employees.

The measures were introduced after an increasing number of attacks from Islamist militants at the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group.

Last month Al Shabab killed 64 people, mostly Christian, in two separate attacks.

REX/Xinhua News Agency

Muslim extremists shot dead 28 non Muslims on a bus

But the new laws faced fierce criticism and at one point sparked a punch fight in the Kenyan parliament.

Henry Ochido, the deputy head of the government-appointed NGO Co-ordination Board, said the NGOs had lost their position because they had failed to submit financial records.

He told the BBC 15 of the 510 were suspected of money-laundering and financing "terrorism," but he refused to name them.

Many people in Kenya fear the government is using the threat posed by militant Islam to restrict freedom.

The AFP news agency says many of the charities are Christian although it's understood none are from the UK.

Fazul Mahamed, the executive director of the board, told Kenya's privately owned Standard newspaper: "The NGOs with accounting issues can only be allowed to operate if they successfully go through a thorough vetting process. Otherwise, they will remain deregistered indefinitely."

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate