Kenyans Will Need A License To Conduct A Harambee

If in case you are planning to hold a fundraising event (popularly known as Harambees) you will have to get a license from the relevant authorities as a new bill suggests.

The new bill, dubbed as The Public Fundraising Appeal bill 2019, aims at regulating the number of harambees held in the country, as MPs suggest that people have been using them to solicit money illegally from the members of the public.

A vetting team (County Policing Authority) shall be put in place to vet the applications and the contributors of the events.

The County policing Authority shall require information including their source of income and the purpose, from both the beneficiaries and the contributors of the fundraising event.

The Harambee held should be of benefit to the members of the public either directly or indirectly. Thus, the license shall not be granted to persons who want to hold the events for personal gains like, for gambling, business promotion or even buying personal things.

According to Ndaragua MP Jeremiah Kioni, those holding public offices especially MPs and MCAs shall be locked out of the Harambees.

Since time immemorial, Harambees have been used to help Kenyans (to enhance the spirit of togetherness), through providing monetary assistance or other forms, to fund their education, sort their medical bills and even build public facilities.

In recent times, this privilege has been abused. Even the initiator of the slogan, the late Jomo Kenyatta would be shocked if he wakes up and sees how Kenyans are misusing this slogan.

Government officials have been known for wasting public funds in the name of sponsoring Harambees while at the same time, using these avenues to woe voters towards their political ambitions.

Some churches have been built for decades using fundraising money, but are still nowhere near completion. Well, if you want to know what Kenyans (especially women) treasure the most, are religious-related issues.

Unfortunately, the bill does not regulate public collections for charitable and religious purposes.

The Public Fundraising Appeals Bill,2019 will work to see an end to the fraudulent acts from selfish politicians and other leaders.