Sankuri Assistant County Commissioner George Koleshi has urged Non-governmental organizations in the area to conduct public participation before undertaking projects.
Speaking during the official opening of NGO’s week in Garissa, Koleshi, he asked the NGO’s to be sensitive to the needs of the citizens to ensure that the projects are of maximum benefit to the communities.
“There is need for NGO’s to conduct public participation to know the needs of the citizens so that they do projects that will help them. This way, we will have efficient projects for sustainable development in the area,” he said.
Koleshi further said NGO’s have a bigger role to play during this period of Covid-19 pandemic by ensuring they supply face masks, provide water points and sensitize the communities on social distancing.
NGO’s Coordination board representative for Northeasten region, Joseph Mutemi asked NGO’s to ensure compliance to laws governing them, including file their annual tax returns. He said the board does not interfere with NGO’s activities but only ensure that they comply with the law.
“I want to ask NGO’s not to shy off from coming forth and initiating development programmes. As a board, we are not here to intimidate you but to ensure proper compliance of the law and coordination,” he said
Mutemi said that devolution should not make NGO’s to stop initiating and funding development projects but instead work with both national and county governments to facilitate service delivery and uplift the lives of citizens.
Organizations present during the opening include North Eastern Youth Development (NEYD), Al-IHSAN Peace and Development organization, Kesho Alliance, Pastoralists Girl Initiative, Action Aid and Woman Kind Kenya. They donated more than 400 face masks and reusable sanitary pads for Northeastern Youth Development children home.
NGO’s week is set to begin on April 12 2021 but NGO’s in Northeastern region started it this week to avoid clashing with Ramadhan which will begin on April 13.