• A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that is organized on a local, national or international level.
  
• All NGO’s must be registered by NGO Coordination Board in accordance with the NGO coordination Act.
  
  

Apply In-PersonEdit

1. The first step is make an application for reservation of a name. This is made on Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation.You can get this form by visiting the NGO Coordination Board offices or by downloading it from the NGO Bureau Website
   
2. You are expected to propose three (3) names in order of priority for the organization to be registered.
   
3. Submit the completed application form to the NGO Coordination Board offices and pay the processing fee of KES 1000 is for the name search and reservation.
   

   Payments by Cheque or cash should be made to:
   

   NGO’s co-Ordination Board Account no: 01136030582102
   

   Co-operative bank
   

   Co-op house branch
   

4. The name search and reservation takes a half a day to complete.
   
5. Once a name has been approved, it is reserved for a period of sixty (60) days.
   
6. An applicant can renew the reservation on the expiry of the name reservation period for a further sixty (60) days on payment of a further Kenya Shillings Five hundred (KES 500).
   
   

• Duly filled Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation
  
  

Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) Co-ordination Board - Head Office
Address: Co-operative Bank House, 15th Floor, Haile Selassie Avenue
P.O. Box 44617 – 00100
Nairobi
Tel: 254-20-2214044, 2214887
Email: info@ngobureau.go.ke /complaints@ngobureau.go.ke /ed@ngobureau.go.ke
Website:Link

Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government
State Department of Coordination
Telposta Towers, Nairobi
P. O. Box 30478 - 00100 Kenya
Telephone: Tel. +254 020 2228411
E-mail: ps@coordination.go.ke
Website: Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government

• Any individual who want to start an NGO is eligible to make an application to reserve a name.
  
  

• Name search and reservation Ksh1,000
  
  

• The validity period of the name is forever.
  

• Once a name has been approved, it is reserved for a period of sixty (60) days.
  
  

• Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation
  
  

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The processing time is half a day.
  
  

Kenya - Apply for Reservation of Non-Governmental Organization Name
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Kenya – Jinsi ya Kufanya Ombi la Kuhifadhi Jina la Shirika isiyo ya Serikali
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1. Before an application to change a name is made, the applicant should submit the name of the NGO for approval from the Director of the Non-Governmental Organizations Board. This is done by filling Form 2 and Submitting the filled form to the Registry for conducting the search.
   
2. The registry will search and recommend the reservation.
   
3. Submission of reserved name to the Programmes Manager for approval.
   
4. Pay applicable fees and submit proof of payment together with the application.
   
   

1. Full name of applicant
   
2. Address
   
3. Three proposed names in order of priority.
   
   

• An NGO needs to be registered for it to carry out its objectives in Kenya. For it to be register it needs a name to operate with. Reservation allows the NGO to reserve its name during its registration.
  
• Any Non-Governmental Organization that wants to register or change its name is supposed to seek from the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board approval of the name.
  
  

• The Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board is a State Corporation established by the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act (Cap 19) of 1990. The Board has the responsibility of regulating and enabling the NGO sector in Kenya.
  
• The Board is currently under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
  
• All NGO applications should be typed or filled in block letters.
  
• All applications MUST contain ORIGINAL signatures of the officials and members as applicable.
  
  

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act 1990 Kenya
  
  

Reasons for rejecting proposed names by applicant

• The following are the reasons why proposed names are rejected:
  

1. Those that are similar in entirety to a name already existing in the register except in instances where the organization is sponsored by an existing organization as a chapter/branch
   
2. Those that have three initial words that are similar to an existing name
   
3. Those whose names are similar to that of an existing government department, existing and legally registered organization
   
4. Those which make derogatory or offensive reference to a particular community, group of people or religion
   
5. Those whose names suggest or make reference to an intention to evangelize or propagate the faith
   
6. Those whose acronym is similar to an existing name or acronym in the register
   
7. Those that when shortened might have similarity with an existing acronym or name in the register
   
8. Those whose meaning appear unclear except in instances where the organization is registered elsewhere outside the country to carry out the work of an NGO
   
9. Those that involve an amalgamation of the names of individuals
   
10. Those who seek to use individuals’ names without their written consent and or that of their families.
    
11. Where the proposed name is already in existence