Kenya - Register a Society

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Procedure

Apply in person

1. Have an official name search and secure the proposed name of the society. A name search is conducted to ascertain if proposed names are available for registration.
   
2. Visit the offices of the Registrar of Societies in the Registrar General Division of the office of the Attorney General to make the application for registration.
   
3. Here you will be given application forms to make the application. These forms include;
   
   • Application for Registration of Society Form A
     
   • Notification of Registered Office Or Postal Address Of A Society Form B
     
   • Specimen constitution for a society : Specimen constitution for a society
     
4. Prepare the societies constitution and fill Forms A and Form B in duplicate. Make sure you have the following documents for submission.
   
   • A list of designated members ( 10 members minimum);
     
   • The names, occupation and postal addresses of the officials Chairman, treasurer and secretary;
     
   • Constitution of the society which must contain name, postal address and objects of the society;
     
   • Application form A and B each in duplicate signed by three of the officers.
     
   • Copies of the ID, PIN and Passport photo of the officials.
     
5. After preparing the application documents visit the registrar of societies to pay the application fee of Ksh 2000.
   
6. Submit your application documents, society’s constitution, required documents and application fee payment receipt to the office of registrar of societies.
   
7. The processing of the application takes a maximum of 120 days to be ready. If the application is approved a certificate of registration of society is then issued. If the application does not comply with the societies rules a Notice of refusal is issued.
   
   

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Required Documents

1. A list of designated members ( 10 members minimum);
   
2. The names, occupation and postal addresses of the officials Chairman, treasurer and secretary;
   
3. Constitution of the society which must contain name, postal address and objects of the society;
   
4. Application form A and B each in duplicate signed by three of the officers.
   • Form A (application for registration of a society)
     
   • Form B ( notification of address and registered office of a society)
     
5. Copies of the ID, PIN and Passport photo of the officials.
   
   

Office Locations & Contacts

The Registrar Of Societies - Head Office
Sheria House, Harambee Avenue
P.O. Box 40112-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 020-2227461-9 / 020-2251355 / 0732 529995 / 0700 072929
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Link

Registrar of Societies Desk - Huduma Center
Huduma Center Locations

E- Citizen Protal - Office of the Attoney General
E- Citizen Link

Eligibility

• A group of 10 or more people/companies in Kenya with the intent of forming society.
  
  

Fees

• Application fees of Ksh 2,000.00
  
  

Validity

• The validity of the certificate of registration is valid as long the society exists. The certificate of registration remains valid, unless revoked by the registrar
  

• The validity of the society is stated in its constitution. In case the society seeks to cease to exists, measures to take to facilitate its termination are outlined in its constitution.

• The existence of the society may be terminated or deemed unlawful by the Government of Kenya if it goes against the Societies Act 2012 of the Laws of Kenya

Documents to Use

1. Application for Registration of Society Form A
   
2. Notification of Registered Office Or Postal Address Of A Society Form B
   
3. Specimen constitution for a society : Specimen constitution for a society
   
4. Specimen constitution for a property club: Specimen constitution for a property club
   
   

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The processing time to register a society is 120 days
  
  

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Instructions

A summary of the procedure is as follows;

1. Conduct a name search to ascertain if proposed names are available for registration.
   
2. Preparation of the constitution and relevant forms (Form Aand Form B)
   
3. Lodge the documents for registration with the registrar of societies in the office of the Registrar General accompanied with the prescribed fee.
   
4. After approval the society will be issued with a certificate of registration of society is then issued. If the application does not comply with the societies rules a Notice of refusal is issued.
   
   

Required Information

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

Need for the Document

• A society 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 society which is not a registered society or an exempted society is an unlawful society
  
  

Information which might help

• 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:
  

1. 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)
   
2. The objects for which the society is to be established.
   
3. The intended registered office (including street/road, plot number) and postal address
   
4. The name of any organization or group of political nature of which the society is a branch or is affiliated to or connected with:
   
5. The class/classes of persons to whom membership of the society is open.
   
6. The present number of members
   
7. The titles of the officers/officials of the society e.g. chair, secretary , treasurer
   
8. The occupations and addresses of the present or proposed officers/officials
   
9. Copies of the ID, PIN and Passport photo of the officials.
   
10. The rates of entrance and subscription fees (if any) for membership.
    
11. The method of suspension or expulsion of members.
    
12. The titles of officers, trustees and auditors and their terms of office, and the method of their election, appointment, dismissal and suspension.
    
13. 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.
    
14. The authority for and the method of filling vacancies on committees.
    
15. The frequency of, quorums for and dates of the general meetings
    
16. The land and premises (if any) owned by the society and the manner in which such property is held or vested.
    
17. The purposes for which the funds may be used, and in particular, the prohibition of the distribution of funds among members.
    
18. Is there an intention to have branches?
    
19. The manner of the dissolution of the society and the disposal of its property on dissolution.
    
    

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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

External Links

• Society’s Registration Forms
  
  

Others

Refusal of registration

The Registrar MAY refuse to register a society where—

a) 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

b) any of the proposed officers has been at any time an officer of a society which has been refused registration or which has had its registration cancelled under the Society Act.

The Registrar SHALL refuse to register a society where—

a) 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, welfare of good order in Kenya would otherwise be likely to suffer prejudice by reason of the registration of the society; or

b) the Minister has declared it to be a society dangerous to the good government of the Republic; or

c) the terms of the constitution or the rules of the society are in any respect repugnant to or inconsistent with any law; or

d) he is satisfied that the application does not comply with the Act or any rules made thereunder; or

e) he is satisfied that the society does not exist; or

f) the name under which the society is to be registered—

1. 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
   
2. 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
   
3. is, repugnant to or inconsistent with any law or is otherwise undesirable.