East African govts to crack down on civil societies, NGOs
Civil society activists demonstrate in Nairobi against the proposed law to control funding of NGOs. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Proposed laws in Kenya and Uganda to impose legal and funding constraints on civil society organisations reflect a growing trend across the world to stifle activism. More than 50 governments in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe have either proposed or passed legislation in the past two years to impede the flow of funds across borders.
In what appears to be an attempt by authorities in the two countries to tame the “invisible hand” of Western influence, Kenya and Uganda have proposed laws to clip the wings of civil society organisations.
