An association is a non-profit organization with members, whose intention is to front causes of idealistic, political, or other characters. Societies, Associations, and Clubs are registered under the Societies Act in Kenya by the Registrar of Societies. Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice-Registrar General Office

Apply in Person
Step 1: Conduct an official name search

1. Before an applicant can begin the registration process, there should, first of all, propose a name for the welfare association. Conduct an online official name search via the eCitizen ‘Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice’ to know if the proposed name is available for registration.

Step 2: Organize yourselves in a group of at least 10 members
Step 3: Draft a constitution of the association

1. A constitution is the association guide. Once this has been drafted and approved, every member should get a copy that they sign and commit to the terms and conditions.
2. The constitution identifies the group’s mission, goals, and objectives.

Step 4 : Hold a meeting to Elect association officials and to seeking registration

1. The three most important slots to be filled are the Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. It’s important to have these positions occupied for accountability and organization purposes of the group.
3. Roles under these titles should also be defined, written down, and put in a document (preferably the constitution) so that every official understands and agrees to the scope of their work.
4. It is important that the office of secretary must know how to read and write.
5. The minutes of the meeting seeking registration and showing elected officials are to be attached to the application forms.

Step 5: Register with the Department Registrar General

1. Visit the office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice – Registrar General Office, Sub-county’s Public Service, Youth, and Gender Affairs or Huduma centre to make the application with the respective officer.
2. Applicant Will be issued the following forms to complete (Application of Registration of a Society Form A & Form B Registered Office Address) or downloadable via the: Attorney General and Department of Justice website or directly download them via these links: Application of Registration of a Society Form A and Form B Registered Office Address
3. Application form should be completed as a word document in duplicate, The chairman, secretary, and treasurer must attest the forms with their signature once completed.
4. Attach the following REQUIREMENTS for assessment and verification. Any omission of the required documents or information will render the application process incomplete.
   • Draft a constitution of the association that includes its objectives.
   • Copies of the National ID, KRA PIN, and Passport photos of the officials.
   • Provide the proposed physical address of the welfare association.
   • Minutes of the meeting seeking registration and showing elected officials
   • A list of designated members (names, occupations, and postal addresses) of the officials.
   • Proof of payment of the application/registration fees of Ksh 2000.00 (Non-Refundable)

Step 6: Evaluation and assessment of the application dossier

1. A file will be opened that includes the name of the association and the date of submission, applicant will be issued with an acknowledgment slip as proof of submission of the application and for future inquiries where necessary.
2. The registrar will assess the complete documents to confirm that they are completed as required and after a successful assessment which is a maximum of 120 days.
3. After a successful assessment, applicants will be notified of the status of their application (Approval, Deferral, or Rejection) by the offices of the Registrar of Societies
4. A notification of refusal will be issued in writing if the application does not comply with society's rules.
5. If the application is approved, a certificate of registration and a copy of an approved constitution are issued.

• Completed and signed:
  • Application of Registration of a Society Form A
  • Form B Registered Office Address
• Draft a constitution of the association that includes its objectives.
• Copies of the National ID, KRA PIN, and Passport photos of the officials.
• Provide the proposed physical address of the welfare association.
• Minutes of the meeting seeking registration and showing elected officials
• A list of designated members (names, occupations, and postal addresses) of the officials

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Address: Sheria House, Harambee Avenue
P.O. Box 40112-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 020-2227461 / 0732 529995 / 0700 072929
E-mail: communications@ag.go.ke
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Co-operative Bank House, Haile Selassie Avenue,
P.O. BOX 56057- 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel No.  020-2227461 / 0732 529995 / 0700 072929
Email: info@ag.go.ke

WORKING HOURS
Monday to Friday 8:00 am – 5 pm
Weekends and Public Holidays – Closed
Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice-Registrar General Office

• A minimum of 7 persons who have attained the age of 18 years can form a society or an Association. However, a minimum of 10 members is to register an association.
• Chairman, treasurer, and secretary should be listed. Names of other members and their occupations should also be listed.
• Constitution of the society is a must, it has to contain the address and objective of the society.

Registration fees of Ksh 2000.00 (non -refundable) are charged.

• The validity of registration certificate is valid for one year, the certificate should be renewed annually before 31st March when the association will be required to submit its annual returns.
• However, the registrar of societies may cancel the registration if the association is affiliated with any organization of political nature.

• Application of Registration of a Society Form A
• Form B Registered Office Address

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The application takes a maximum of 120 days to be ready. Then the society will be issued a certificate of registration.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is dkisplayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

• The name of the Association
• The objects of the Association
• The class or classes of persons to whom members of the Association is open
• The present number of members
• The title of the officers of the Association
• The title, full names, not initials, occupations, and addresses of the present or proposed officers
• The land and premises (if any) owned by the Association and the manner in which such property is held or vested
• The rates of entrance and subscription fee (if any) for membership
• The method of suspension or expulsion of members
• The frequency of quorums for and dates for the general meeting
• The annual or periodical audit of accounts
• The manner of amending the name, constitution, or rules of the Association
• The manner of the dissolution of the society and the disposal of its property on dissolution.

• An association needs to be registered for it to carry out its objectives in Kenya. After registration, the society is given a certificate of registration, which allows it to operate within Kenya.
• Every association which is not a registered association or an exempted association is an unlawful association.

• Societies in Kenya are registered with the Registrar General in Kenya and applications can be made in person in any office of the Registrar general countrywide.
• To register a society or an association in Kenya, one needs the following:
  • The name of the society/association (please provide several options and also avoid starting with the word ‘Kenya’ or using words like ‘Institute’ in the name)
  • The objects for which the society is to be established.
  • The intended registered office (including street/road, plot number) and postal address
  • The name of any organization or group of political nature of which the society is a branch or is affiliated to or connected with:
  • The class/classes of persons to whom members of the society are open.
  • The present number of members
  • The titles of the officers/officials of the society e.g. chair, secretary, treasurer
  • The occupations and addresses of the present or proposed officers/officials
  • Copies of the ID, PIN, and Passport photo of the officials.
  • The rates of entrance and subscription fees (if any) for membership.
  • The method of suspension or expulsion of members.
  • The titles of officers, trustees, and auditors and their terms of office, and the method of their election, appointment, dismissal, and suspension.
  • The composition of committees (if any) of the society, the terms of office of members of such committees, and the method of their election, appointment, dismissal, and suspension.
  • The authority for and the method of filling vacancies on committees.
  • The frequency of, quorums for and dates of the general meetings
  • The land and premises (if any) owned by the society and the manner in which such property is held or vested.
  • The purposes for which the funds may be used, and in particular, the prohibition of the distribution of funds among members.
  • Is there an intention to have branches?
  • The manner of the dissolution of the society and the disposal of its property on dissolution.

• A registration certificate is required when opening a bank account for the association.
• The certificate is also required when the association wants to buy an immovable property or when entering into contractual agreements.

Register a Society

Refusal of registration
The Registrar MAY refuse to register a society where—

• He is satisfied that such society is a branch of, or is affiliated to or connected with, any organization or association of a political nature established outside Kenya; or
• Any of the proposed officers has been at any time an officer of a society that has been refused registration or which has had its registration canceled under the Society Act.

The Registrar SHALL refuse to register a society where—

• He has reasonable cause to believe that the society has among its objects, or is likely to pursue or to be used for, any unlawful purpose or any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare, or good order in Kenya, or that the interests of peace, the welfare of good order in Kenya would otherwise be likely to suffer prejudice by reason of the registration of the society; or
• The Minister has declared it to be a society dangerous to the good government of the Republic; or
• The terms of the constitution or the rules of the society are in any respect repugnant to or inconsistent with any law; or
• He is satisfied that the application does not comply with the Act or any rules made thereunder; or
• He is satisfied that the society does not exist; or
• The name under which the society is to be registered—
  • Is identical to that of any other society which either is existing or has existed, or of any society whose application for registration has been refused under this section; or
  • So nearly resembles the name of any other society as, to be likely to deceive the public or the members of either society as to its nature or identity; or
  • Is, repugnant to or inconsistent with any law or is otherwise undesirable.