INVITATION TO LAUNCH OF ‘TALK TO YOUR REGULATOR’ INITIATIVE ON 19 MAY

Thank you for the kind invitation to the *Launch of the “Talk to Your
Regulator” (T2R) Initiative*, in partnership with the Public Benefit
Organizations Regulatory Authority (PBORA). I’m writing to confirm my *physical
attendance* at the convening on *Monday, 19th May 2025*, at the *Sarova
Stanley Hotel, Nairobi*.

As a professional working at the intersection of *cybersecurity, tech
policy, and civic innovation*, I recognize the urgency and importance of
aligning Kenya’s regulatory frameworks with both global standards and local
realities, especially in light of the recent FATF grey listing and the
operationalization of the PBO Act.

I am particularly interested in how we can leverage *risk-based,
digitally-enabled oversight mechanisms* that safeguard national security
without shrinking civic space. I look forward to contributing to the
dialogue, learning from peers across sectors, and exploring collaborative
strategies that uphold compliance while empowering Kenya’s diverse
non-profit ecosystem.

Thank you again for this important initiative. I look forward to an
impactful engagement.

Warm regards,
*Danfold Mosongo*
Tech Policy & Sustainability Advocate, Cybersecurity Engineer
Founder, TECH.PATHS
www.linkedin.com/in/danfold-mosongo/

On Fri, May 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM Kimari via KICTANet <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Dear Partner,
>
> The Kenya non-profit organizations’ Working Group on the Financial
> Action Task Force in partnership with the Public Benefit Organizations
> Regulatory Authority (PBORA) invite you to the Launch of the “Talk To
> Your Regulator” (T2R) Initiative.
>
> The launch will be a hybrid half-day meeting that will take place on
> Monday, 19th May 2025 at Sarova Stanley Hotel, Nairobi from 8:00
> am-2:00pm.
>
> The conference will bring together diverse civil society organisations,
> oversight and regulatory bodies, and representatives of financial
> institutions and development partners to share insights and debate
> critical issues related to oversight and regulation of terror financing
> risks in Kenya’s non-profit sector. Discussions will focus on fostering
> an enabling environment for non-profit organisations by bridging the
> knowledge gaps in the regulatory framework, mitigating their
> misapplication and addressing adverse effects on the civic space.
>
> The timing of this conversation is crucial as the Public Benefits
> Organizations Act (PBO Act) 2013 comes into operation, and as the
> Government of Kenya works to address deficiencies in its anti-money
> laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. Kenya
> was grey listed in 2024 following Mutual Evaluation by the East and
> Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG). The Financial
> Action Task Force (FATF) regional body found that Kenya lacks a clear
> strategy for prosecution of money laundering offenses, has not
> adequately investigated and prosecuted terror financing, and has an
> underdeveloped risk-based approach to anti-money laundering and
> countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) supervision. It further
> concluded that while Kenya has a large non-profit sector, it is largely
> unsupervised and unregulated, hence the risk of terror financing abuse
> remains unidentified.
>
> The Talk to Your Regulator (T2R) Initiative aims to foster stakeholder
> collaboration and dialogue to develop actionable strategies for ensuring
> risk-based approaches are taken in terror financing oversight and
> regulation of the NPO sector. With Kenya now on the FATF’s grey list and
> subject to increased monitoring, there is impetus to review the
> interrelated factors that have led to an uncoordinated regulatory and
> supervision regime in the non-profit sector. Through the T2R, the NPO
> Working Group will work to ensure civil society voice and representation
> in efforts to revise the NPO regulatory framework. This collaborative
> approach will help ensure that oversight and regulation measures are
> effective in combating financial crimes, risk-based, and do not disrupt
> or discourage legitimate NPO activity.
>
> Please find attached the Launch agenda and concept note, which outlines
> the topics to be discussed and the objectives of the event.
>
> Please confirm physical attendance by responding to this email or
> register using this link if you wish to attend online
> us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l9_8ejKFSPiOh5e3d3sA5g
>
> For any enquiries about the conference or the NPO Working Group, please
> reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]
>
> We look forward to your participation and collaboration.
>
> Best,
> Kimari
> Programme Manager, Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies
>