Kenya Shuts 510 NGOs, some for 'Terrorism Financing'

Kenya on Tuesday closed over 500 non-governmental organizations, including 15 for alleged fundraising for terrorism, as part of a security crackdown following repeated attacks.

The government's non-governmental organization (NGO) coordination board said in a statement it had "de-registered 510 organizations for non-compliance with the law", with some using their charitable status as a front for raising cash for terrorism.

"Some NGOs have been and continue to be used for criminal activities, including as conduits of terrorism financing in Kenya and in the Horn of Africa," the statement read, which did not specify the names of such groups.

From the names of 510 listed, many appeared to be aid agencies and charities, with many closed for failing to provide financial audit returns.

Several appeared to be Christian organizations, orphanages, or organizations working in health and development.

"The board has with immediate effect de-registered these organizations, frozen their bank accounts and forwarded information on them to relevant government security agencies for immediate action," it said.

Kenya's government has been under fire since last year's attack by Somalia's Al-Qaida-affiliated Shebab on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, in which at least 67 people were killed.

Earlier this month Kenya's interior minister and police chief were removed from their posts after the Shebab carried out massacres in the northeast of the country.

The organizations were identified "in collaboration with security agencies both locally and internationally", the statement added, without giving further details.

Assets seized would be redistributed to credible organizations working in the same areas, it said.

Kenyan lawmakers are currently deliberating proposals to boost security laws, criticized by some as being too tough and restricting freedoms.