About 410 non-governmental organisations face the axe.

Among them are those associated with politicians Martin Shikuku, J.M. Shikuku Foundation, and Shem Ochuodho, African Regional Centre for Computing, one of the pioneer internet communication outfits in Africa.

The body that registers such organisations, the Non-Governmental Organisation Co-Ordination Board, has given the agencies 30 days "to supply proof of their continued existence" as NGOs, according to a Kenya Gazette notice signed by the board's chairman, Mr W.K Koech.

The drastic step is likely to affect a host of agencies operating in Somalia, Rwanda and southern Sudan, and a legion of international relief organisations with local chapters.

A local religious denomination, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, could be deregistered though authorities hardly explain why it is lumped with non-governmental organisations.

Notable names affected by the latest threat include Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute, Centre for Transportation and Environment Studies, Hope Africa, International Consortium for Education and Development, The Kenya Anti-Rape Organisation, Kenya Energy and Environment Organisation.

This is the first time the government has threatened to deregister about 40 per cent of the country's registered NGOs.

There are about 4,000 non-governmental agencies in Kenya, although most of them operate without licences.

Three months ago, the government said it would enact a law that would rein in the organisations unless they declare to the government their source of funding.

Vice-President George Saitoti set up a committee which has been working to find ways of streamlining the organisations.

Interestingly, agencies involved in governance and civil education do not feature prominently in the list of those facing the axe. President Moi has frequently accused such agencies of destabilising his government.

Former MP Martin Shikuku, whose JM Shikuku Foundation faces deregistration, yesterday said authorities stopped its operations over a decade ago.