A list of Kenyan organizations receiving U.S. government aid reveals interesting insights into the lobbying campaign for a new constitution in the East African nation. As The Daily Caller previously reported, U.S. federal funds have been used to essentially lobby for a new proposed Kenyan constitution that includes a provision legalizing abortion for the first time in the country’s history.
At the request of three Republican congressmen – Reps. Darrell Issa of California, Chris Smith of New Jersey and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida — the Office of Inspector General of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released a report detailing the Kenyan groups it supports.
Among them is the Kenya Muslim Youth Alliance, which received $56,953.33 in funds from the U.S. government to contribute to the “overrepresentation of the YES voters at the next referendum.” The group organizes programs that “facilitate acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable the Muslim youth cope with demands of the changing world without compromising Islamic values.”
The Amani Peoples Theatre (APT) is a non-profit that employs volunteers in a similar manner to community organizers in America’s own urban districts. Focused on “peacebuilding,” APT volunteers facilitate activities such as training sessions for conflict resolution and art and drama therapy. Recently, however, it got $41,000 from the U.S. government to organize the registration of roughly 20,000 Kenyans to vote “yes” on the proposed new Kenyan constitution.
Even Kenya’s major labor union, the Central Organization of Trade Unions, received more than $90,000 of U.S. funds to organize a rally to “drum up political support for the proposed constitution.”
Religious groups in Kenya were also among those receiving U.S. aid to rally support for a constitution that expands access to abortion. The Pokot Outreach Ministries and the Christian Community Services, combined, received more than $75,000 to get out the “yes” vote.
Aside from art theaters and religious groups, the Provincial Commissioner of the North Eastern Conference – a position that is similar to a U.S. governor with the exception that the position is appointed by Kenya’s president — was given almost $100,000.
The Office of Inspector General for USAID has not responded to interview requests by TheDC.
Providing federal funds to support the expansion of legalized abortion overseas is a violation of the Silijander Amendment, which prohibits the use of foreign assistance funds from being used to lobby for or against abortion.