Unwanted Witness Uganda’s Post

The Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act, initially passed in 2013 but delayed for implementation, has finally come into effect today May 14, 2024. This law provides a structured and transparent framework for the registration and regulation of civil society organizations in the country. It aims to streamline the registration process, minimize arbitrary administrative decisions, and offer various benefits, including tax incentives, to registered PBOs. The implementation of this act is seen as a step towards fostering an inclusive, participatory, and open society, strengthening Kenya's democratic principles and promoting transparent governance. Its enactment reflects the fulfillment of a promise made by the Kenya Kwanza Administration to promote inclusive governance and accountability.

Government agencies in Nigeria play crucial roles in the administration of the country. They execute policies, enforce laws, and ensure public services are delivered. However, understanding their operations can be complex due to their overlapping functions and responsibilities. Many people often find it challenging to differentiate between these agencies. This confusion sometimes leads to inefficiencies and a lack of accountability. Let's delve into the duplicity of agencies in Nigeria's government. https://lnkd.in/gKw58nw6

Are citizens and news media able to obtain information about government budgets, expenditures, development plans, and contracts? Are they confident enough to try? Across Africa, even with laws, access to information is a work in progress. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eQdnDqAp

This book serves as a comprehensive guide to legislative drafting, catering to both students and practitioners across all levels of government. Its primary objective is to enhance the quality of legislation in South Africa. Order here: https://bit.ly/3Rzzlut

This webinar will discuss the implementation of #SSFGuidelines in #Africa, & the Legislative & Regulatory frameworks that support their implementation. A set of proposals will be presented for consideration in #Ghana's legislative review https://lnkd.in/eH3KkcnA

Observe how online hashtags like #RejectFinanceBill2024 and #OccupyParliament escalated into significant offline movements in Kenya, culminating in the #RutoMustGo trend. Over 90% of these interactions are retweets, amplifying a vocal minority's influence. Evolving Discussions were initially focused on financial legislation, but the dialogue has expanded to broader governance and rule of law issues. https://lnkd.in/d7KK_vtm

The Kenya Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act, which was enacted in 2013, finally came into effect on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. This new law outlays a comprehensive, consolidated, predictable and transparent framework for the registration and regulation of civil society entities operating within the territory of Kenya. Stay tuned as we will be unpacking the PBO Act. #UnpackingthePBOAct #HoAYN

Namibia’s Access to Information Act 8 of 2022 marks a pivotal moment in the country’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and democratic governance. The Parliament of Namibia enacted the law to enhance public access to information held by public bodies. The Act underscores the principles that information is a public resource and everyone has the right to access information in the possession of public authorities. Although not yet in force, this watershed legislation has already generated significant anticipation and is poised to transform Namibia’s governance landscape. Source: ITLawCo https://lnkd.in/dGdKHd8B

Malawi lawyers are reporting institutions to the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) where my good friend Dr. Jean Phillipo works. In Kenya, lawyers are not reporting institutions, meaning that they are not bound by law to report suspicious money transactions involving their clients to the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC). The FRC is a government body which was established to trace proceeds of crime and to fight money laundering(AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT), and is the Kenyan counterpart of Malawi's FIA. Kenyan lawyers have put up a spirited fight against being made reporting institutions by law, citing the risk of compromising the advocate-client privilege. Advocate-Client privilege means that all communications between a client and his advocate are protected and the advocate cannot disclose them. Such disclosure amounts to professional misconduct. This state of affairs has kept Kenya from achieving full compliance with its AML-CFT international obligations. In my article published in Vol. 9(2) of the Journal of Conflict Management and Sustainable Development, I explored this issue, defining what money-laundering is, Kenya's international obligations and the crucial role of the Kenyan lawyer in the AML-CFT fight. The article proposes that there is much gain in making lawyers reporting institutions, as can be seen from the South African situation. It also proposes that such action will not prejudice advocate-client privilege, as protection of advocate-client communications does not apply where a crime has been committed. The article is available at https://lnkd.in/dmRv7Dtd

On The June Issue of  The Platform for Law, Justice & Society Magazine;I explored the recent impeachment motion and subsequent proceedings involving Hon. Mithika Linturi, CS- Agriculture, and analyzed/spoke against the exoneration of the charges that formed the basis of his impeachment. In summary, I argued that the decision to absolve the CS raises pertinent questions about Parliament's dedication to effective oversight and accountability. The article presupposes Continuity without change and delves into the crucial issue of political accountability within Kenya's parliamentary and political landscape.https://www.theplatformke.co.ke/