Civil society groups deny allegations of fanning violence during protests

Human rights organisations have refuted allegations that outside partners are using them to finance acts of violence during the current demonstrations.

They said their activities and sources of funding are known by the government under their legal registration through the Public Benefit Organisations Act or the Company's Act all requiring that they file financial returns.

During a press briefing early Friday, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA)-Kenya, Transparency International, and the Defenders Coalition stated that the claims of funding violence are intended to distract from Kenyans' ongoing call for change in governance and accountability.

TI executive director Sheila Masinde said for decades Civil Society groups have tirelessly called out against acts of violence against Kenyans and have consistently done so during the current wave of protests.

She noted that the intensity of the same has been high in the last three months when civil society and the media have engaged robustly in pushing for public finance management accountability, public debt, protection of human rights including the right to expression, including protests and active citizenship, end of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, abductions and the theft of public resources.

"These are the concerns shared by Kenyans who are pushing for an accountable government at all levels, especially at the executive and legislative class. The continued neglect of the need to have an accountable and transparent government that respects and values the voices of Kenyans is the reason for continued protests across various parts of the country," she explained.

TISA Kenya Executive Director Diana Gishengo said the claims of funding violence are meant to raise a distraction from the ongoing push for accountability.

She added that civil society exists to defend the Constitution, a call they vowed to keep championing.

At the same time, the organisations said the decision by President William Ruto to re-appoint six of his previously sacked cabinet ministers is an affront to the ongoing call for change in accountability in governance and respect for the Constitution.

"We are concerned that the people set aside on accountability and performance grounds are back in the Cabinet. It looks like the president may have been buying time to allow the pressure of the moment to go down. We would have expected the President to say the criteria he relied on including track record and accountability," said Ms Wanjiru Gikonyo, board member KHRC and TISA.

Moving forward, the organisations stated that they will wait for the executive to finish appointing the Cabinet before vetting each nominee and publishing their results for Kenyans to view in their efforts to guarantee that the country has leaders who are fit to serve.

"We are in a different season where if parliament does not do their work, Kenyans are in the ear of exercising their direct authority. If they continue to ignore Kenyans, we will not hesitate to move to court to ensure that the Constitution is strictly upheld," said Ms Gishengo.