TYPES OF SOCIETIES YOU CAN REGISTER IN KENYA
There are different types of Societies one can register in Kenya. They include: Foundations, Alumni, Clubs, Religious societies (e.g. Churches/Mosques/Temples & Ministries), Welfare, Associations, Professional societies, etc. For any society to acquire legal status and be functional, it must be registered under the Societies Act (Cap 108). Below is an overview of different Societies that can be registered in Kenya:
| TYPE OF SOCIETY | DESCRIPTION | REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION | TIMELINE FOR REGISTRATION | GOVERNMENT REGISTRATION FEES (KSH) |
| Foundation | A Foundation is a society set up for solely charitable purposes and relies on its members contributions to support its activities. | Propose at least 3 names for the Foundation. Proposed physical office and address of the Foundation (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Members certificate of good conduct/police clearance. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the Foundation. Constitution/Rule. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the Foundation. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fees. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
| Alumni | An Alumni is society formed by a group of persons who have either attended or graduated as students or pupils of a school, college, university or institution. | Propose at least 3 names for the Alumni. Proposed physical office and address of the Alumni (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Members certificate of good conduct/police clearance. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the Alumni. Constitution/Rule. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the Alumni. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fee. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
| Club | A Club is a society formed by a group of persons for social and recreational purposes and offering a facility that has all with the related club facilities eg. golf club- houses, swimming pool clubhouse, tennis clubhouse etc. | Propose at least 3 names for the Club. Proposed physical office and address of the Club (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Members certificate of good conduct/police clearance. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the Club. Constitution/Rule. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the Club. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fee. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
| Religious Society (Churches/ Mosques/Temples/Ministries) | A Religious society is a society formed by a group of persons who relate to, or devoted to certain similar religious beliefs or observance. | Propose at least 3 names for the religious society. Proposed physical office and address of the society (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Members certificate of good conduct/police clearance. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the religious society. Constitution/Rules of the society. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the society. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fee. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
| Welfare | A Welfare is a society formed by group of individuals aimed at offering programs that provide aid eg. Financial aid to themselves or to those who cannot support themselves. | Propose at least 3 names for the Welfare. Proposed physical office and address of the Welfare (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the Welfare. Constitution/Rule. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the Welfare. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fee. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
| Association | An Association is a society formed by a group of people for a particular purpose or objectives as permitted by the Societies Act Cap 108. | Propose at least 3 names for the Association. Proposed physical office and address of the Association (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Members certificate of good conduct/police clearance. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the Association. Constitution/Rule. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the Association. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fee. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
| Professional society (e.g. Media Owners Association) | A Professional society is a society formed by a group of persons who are competent or skilled in a particular activity that requires a certain level of education, skill, training, standard of competency, knowledge, or education that must be demonstrated often in the form of a credential as well as adhering to codes of conduct and ethical standards. | Propose at least 3 names for the Professional society. Proposed physical office and address of the society (i.e. Building, Floor, room, county, p.o box, Email and Phone number). List of at least 10 members. Members’ ID/Passports, passport size photos, KRA pins, CVs, professional certificate, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses and extract of their signatures. Members certificate of good conduct/police clearance. Proposed one year budget. Minutes to set up the society. Constitution/Rule. List of counties of operation. 5 Objectives of the society. Cover letter requesting for registration. Applicable fee. | Within 120 days | 5,250.00/= |
Other services offered by the Registrar of Societies include:
- Confirmation of a society: -Confirmation of a society is an OFFICIAL SEARCH to show that the society has complied with all the requirements and hence it has been registered as per the society act. A confirmation of a society or official search can be done by either one of the society official i.e chairperson, treasurer, or secretary and also an advocate representing the society. In the case of an advocate, the advocate is required to upload a practicing certificate. The Confirmation of a Society fees is Kshs, 850/-.
- Changes to a registered Society e.g change of Society’s name, change of constitution, change of office bearers etc. for more information on changes to a registered society check out our Societies series 2 insight.
At A.O. WANGA ADVOCATES we are happy to assist you with all your Societies registration and changes processes. Please contact us on info@aowangaadvocates.com or +254794600191.
All rights reserved for A.O. WANGA ADVOCATESwww.aowangaadvocates.com
