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-Person
Step 1 : Pre-registration

Name Search

1. Make an application for reservation of a name. This is made on Form 2 (F-2)Reservation of Name
   

1. You are expected to propose three (3) names in order of priority for the organization to be registered.
   
2. Processing fee of KES 1000 is charge for the name search and reservation.
   
3. The name search and reservation takes a half a day.
   
4. Once a name has been approved, it is reserved for a period of sixty (60) days.
   
5. 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 1000).
   
   

Step 2 : Registration

• Using the new approves name you should then approach the NGO board offices to make the application for registration.
  
• You will be issued with two forms to complete, these are
  

1. Form 1 Register of Non-Governmental Organizations, Register of Non-Governmental Organizations stating the organizations contact person. This form gives notification of location of the office and the postal address of the proposed organization.
   
2. Form 3 Application for Registration Application for Registration, and submit two copies in original Forms providing Information on contact details of the proposed organization, details of the 3 top officials, the charitable objective of the organization and list of other board members.
   
3. Form 1 and Form 3 are issued upon payment of Kes.400/= (all downloaded forms 1 & 3 shall only be accepted upon payment of Kes.400/=)
   
4. All applications should either be typed or filled in block letters. All applications MUST contain ORIGINAL signatures of the officials and members as applicable.
   

• The following documents should be attached with the application documents:
  

1. Two colour passport size photographs on a white background (2 by 2 inches) of the proposed 3 officials and two other board members with their names and organization written at the back.
   
2. Copy of ID/Passport and KRA PIN Certificates for the 5 proposed officials and Board members. At least One third (1/3) of all the board members MUST be Kenyan for all foreign based NGOs.
   
3. A Copy of a valid police clearance (certificate of Good Conduct including the finger prints and receipts) for Kenyans and equivalent notarized clearance certificate for Foreigners from their Country of Origin (MUST not be more than six (6) months Old).
   
4. Constitution of the proposed NGO/INGO it must be signed by both the proposed three (3) officials and the two (2) board members Two (2) copies must be submitted).Please note that all the two (2) constitutions must be signed by all the proposed board members on the execution page and by at least one of the proposed officials on each and every page.
   
5. Minutes authorizing the filling of the application with a specific agenda and resolution to register the organization as an NGO with the NGOs Board. Election of the interim officials MUST form part of the Agenda.
   
6. Proposed one year budget
7. Forwarding letter addressed to the Executive Director requesting for registration.
   
8. Copy of Name Reservation Form (Form 2) duly approved and paid for
   

• You should then proceed to pay the applicable application fees. A Processing fee of KSH. 16,000 is charged for national NGOs and KSH.30,000 for International NGOs
  
• The processing time for registration is one month thereafter the NGO’s contact person will be contacted by the NGO board and be issued with a registration certificate.
  
  

1. Two colour passport size photographs on a white background (2 by 2 inches) of the proposed 3 officials and two other board members with their names and organization written at the back.
   
2. Copy of ID/Passport and KRA PIN Certificates for the 5 proposed officials and Board members. At least One third (1/3) of all the board members MUST be Kenyan for all foreign based NGOs.
   
3. A Copy of a valid police clearance (certificate of Good Conduct including the finger prints and receipts) for Kenyans and equivalent notarized clearance certificate for Foreigners from their Country of Origin (MUST not be more than six (6) months Old).
   
4. Constitution of the proposed NGO/INGO it must be signed by both the proposed three (3) officials and the two (2) board members Two (2) copies must be submitted).Please note that all the two (2) constitutions must be signed by all the proposed board members on the execution page and by at least one of the proposed officials on each and every page.
   
5. Minutes authorizing the filling of the application with a specific agenda and resolution to register the organization as an NGO with the NGOs Board. Election of the interim officials MUST form part of the Agenda.
   
6. Proposed one year budget
   
7. Forwarding letter addressed to the Executive Director requesting for registration.
   
8. Duly completed Form 3 (three copies) in original Forms.
   
9. Duly completed Form 1 (one copy stating organization’s contact person).
   
10. Copy of Name Reservation Form (Form 2) duly approved and paid for
    
    

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

i. Among the top three officials, one of them MUST be a Kenyan as a basic requirement for all foreign or International based NGOs.

ii. Another requirement for an NGO to be registered, is that it would have to demonstrate an act of public good that it will benefit and improve the lives of the population and the citizens.

• Name search and reservation Ksh1,000
  
• Form 1 and Form 3 are issued upon payment of Khs 400
  
• Application fees Ksh. 16,000 is charged for national NGOs and Ksh.30,000 for International NGOs.
  
  

The NGOs Board accepts Bankers cheque, Organization Cheque, Electronic fund transfer (EFT), Direct payments to the NGOs Coordination Board Bank Account.

• Payments by cheque or cash should be made to:
  

NGOS Co-ordination Board Account No: 01136030582102

Co-operative Bank: Co-op House Branch

• The certificate of registration is valid for a period of sixty months from the date of issue
  
• However the NGO can be deregistered when it violates the NGOs Co-ordination Act and its Regulations. The Board may refuse registration of an applicant if –
  

a) it is satisfied that its proposed activities or procedures are not in the national interest;

b) it is satisfied that the applicant has given false information on the registration requirements or

c) it is satisfied, on the recommendation of the Council, that the applicant should not be registered

Form 1 Register of Non-Governmental Organizations : Form 1 Register of Non-Governmental Organizations
Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation : 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation
Form 3 Application for Registration : Form 3 Application for Registration
Prototype constitution : Prototype constitution
NGO registration requirements : NGO registration requirements

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• An NGO takes up to a month to be registered.
  
  

Kenya - Register a Non-Governmental Organization - English
<video type="//www.youtube.com/">0EOC3C43Dc8|width="560" height="340"</video>

Kenya - Jinsi ya Kuandikisha Shirika isiyo ya Serikali (NGO) - In Swahili
<video type="//www.youtube.com/">94MjfK4aznY|width="560" height="340"</video>

1. Before an application for registration 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. Download Form 3 from the following link Form 3 to register the NGO after the name has been approved
   
5. A notification of location of the office and the postal address of the proposed organization Form 1 signed by the three top officials of that proposed organization. Form 1 can be found here Form 1
   
6. The application for registration will be submitted to the Executive Director, NGOs Co-ordination Board, P.O Box 44617-00100, Nairobi Kenya, with the requited documents attached.
   
7. Pay applicable fees and send proof of payment together with the application.
   
   

• The Line Ministry under which the objectives fall
  
• Work plan for first year of operation
  
• Itemized Budget for First year of Operation
  
• Comprehensive organizational chart
  
• Memorandum of Understanding between the organization and the donors (If any)
  
• In case of an organization registering a branch of an organization already registered locally or overseas
  
  

• An NGO needs to be registered for it to carry out its objectives in Kenya. After registration, the NGO is given an operating permit, which allows them to operate in Kenya.
  

• 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.
  
• The NGOs Co-ordination Board is responsible for inter alia registering, facilitating and coordinating all national and international NGOs operating in Kenya; advising the government on their contribution to national development; providing policy guidelines for NGOs to align their activities with national priorities and receiving and analysing NGOs annual reports. To facilitate and co-ordinate the work of all national and international NGOs operating in Kenya.
  
• All NGO applications should be typed or filled in block letters.
  
• All applications MUST contain ORIGINAL signatures of the officials and members as applicable.
  
• Applicants can obtain the prototype constitution which can serve as guideline while drafting their constitution. The prototype constitution can be downloaded using the following link prototype constitution
  
  

• The registration proves the validity of the NGO’s agenda it pre-qualifies them to be able to apply for donor funds.
  
• The document is required when opening a bank account for the NGO.
  
  

Local NGO registration and international registration in Kenya : Local NGO registration and international registration in Kenya
Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act 1990 Kenya : Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act 1990 Kenya

• If the Applicant organization has a previous registration / Incorporation, an applicant is required to produce a notarized copy of the relevant registration certificate. In addition, this should be accompanied by a letter of the Organization from the board of such an Organization.
  
• For Organizations with previous registrations under any other written Law in Kenya, a certificate of dissolution from the registering authority MUST be tendered and / or filled with NGOs board for the application to be accepted.
  
• Applicants are encouraged to use the prototype constitution available on the NGOs Coordination board website. Please note that constitutions that do not follow the prototype may take longer to review.