REGISTRATION OF A SOCIETY IN KENYA

The registration of a Society in Kenya is governed by the Societies Act (Cap 108) of the Laws of Kenya.

The requirements for registration of a Society in Kenya are as below:

• Name search;
• Number of members in the Society please note that the least number of members required to form a society are at least ten (10);
• Objects of the society;
• Societies application forms which are Form A and B being the application for registration of a society and notification of registered office and address of a society respectively;
• Societies Constitution specimen;
• Notice of the situation of the office and of the postal address of the society;
• Names, postal addresses and occupation of the secretary, chairman and treasurer;
• Application fees.

Registration procedure:

The Societies Act (Cap 108) Laws of Kenya requires that every society shall make an application to the Registrar within twenty eight (28) days after formation thereof for registration or exemption from registration.

For registration of a society, a name search has to first be conducted to ascertain the availability of the proposed names of the society, the applicants have to fill forms A and B being the application for registration of a society and notification of registered office and address of a society respectively, a specimen constitution of the society is then prepared. Once done all the necessary documents are submitted to the Registrar of society together with the application fees.

Upon application being made in the prescribed manner for registration of a society, the Registrar shall, register the society by entering in the register of societies, kept for the purpose, the prescribed particulars and the date of the entry and issue to the Society a certificate of registration. 

Registration is however not guaranteed, the Registrar may reject an application for various reasons such as if 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  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 Societies Act (Cap 108); 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 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. 

If you wish to register a Society please do not hesitate to contact us on legalserviceskenya@gmail.com.