PHM-Exch> Petition and Protest on Kenya's restrictions against civil society

[Ravi M. Ram]

To all PHM activists,

As you may be aware, the Kenyan Parliament is 
debating an amendment to the recent Public 
Benefit Organization Act, that will impose major 
restrictions on civil society organizations. 
HENNET (Kenya’s Health NGO Network), PHM Kenya 
and other NGO networks are preparing responses.

We ask you to support us by signing the online petition, here:

<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Muzzling_The_Kenyan_NGOs/?artehgb>https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Muzzling_The_Kenyan_NGOs/?artehgb

The text of HENNET’s letter is below:

We, Health Sector PBOs,

1. Fully support PBO Act in  its current form;
2. Strongly recommend  that Parliament reject the 
proposed amendments to the PBO Act 2013
contained in The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2013.

It  is  noteworthy  that  CSOs  including  Faith 
based  organization  contribute  significantly  to  the
Healthcare  Service  Delivery  in  Kenya.  The 
Health  Sector  NGOs  have  continued  to  effectively
work  with  government  to  complement  its 
efforts  to ensure  the  most  basic  of  needs  are  met  in
the  most  remote  of  areas  and  by  the 
neediest populations. Some  of  the  contribution  to  the
health sector includes:

·         47%  of  Kenya’s  health  care  is 
delivered  through  private  sector  including 
NGOs  and  Faith Based  Organizations. 
Article  43  of  the  Bill  of  Rights  - 
every  Kenyan  constitutionally  has a 
right  to  the  highest  attainable 
standard  of  health  and  currently  much  of 
health  services  are 
facilitated  in  private  facilities  and  in 
Government  facilities  with  external  donor  funding through PBOs.
·         55% of the national health budget is 
funded through NGOs by external funding
·         89% of HIV budget (including life 
saving ARVs for 1Million HIV infected Kenyans) 
are funded by  external  donors  through 
Health  promotion  and  prevention  for  HIV, 
malaria  and  other public health priorities  for 
Kenya are largely donor  funded through NGOs.
·         6.8  million  People 
were  tested  for  HIV  in  2012,  of  whom  60% 
in  health  facilities  facilitated through NGOs.

The  proposed  amendments  will  reverse  major 
gains  made  in  the  Health  sector  in  Kenya, 
jeopardize  the  achievement  of  Vision  2030 
and  MDGs,  Negate  Public  Private  Partnerships 
  and also goes against the Abuja declaration.

We therefore call you to take a stand against the amendments to the bill.

Best regards,

Ravi