The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic led to an increase in business registrations, including non-profit establishments more commonly known as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
In Kenya, the two types of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or non profits that you can register, are international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
This article, will show you the steps involved in registering both types.
With no further ado, let’s get down to it!
How To Register Your International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) In Kenya
To register your international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kenya, simply:
- Carry Out A Name Search And Reservation. This process is quite productive and fast in Kenya. It is available at all Huduma Centres in the country. It only costs 300 Kenyan Shillings and has a waiting period of 2 weeks.
- Name Reservation. After the Name Search comes the Name Reservation. For this all you have to do is fill in the Form 2.
- Upon filling your Form 2, you will have to pay a processing fee of 1,000 Kenyan Shillings.
- Once done, bring the documents to the registry. Said registry will conduct a search and endorse your preferred name for the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). If the preferred name is rejected, the Registry will give you the reason(s) why. Once the name is approved, the Registry will reserve the preferred name for 30 to 60 days.
After the Name Search and Reservation, you will then make a formal application for your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s registration.
- As the applicant, you will need to submit a duly filled Form 3 along with 2 copies of the Form 3. All 3 copies must be filled with the necessary information like the goal of your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the contact details of your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), contact information for the top 3 authorities, and the contact information for the other members of your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- Next, submit your Form 1 which will include your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s Contact Individual. The Form 1 along with the Form 3 will cost you 400 Kenyan Shillings.
- After that, submit coloured passport photographs of the top 3 individuals in your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) along with the coloured passport photographs of two board members.
- Once done, provide copies of IDs or Passports and KRA PIN certificates of the 5 individuals you chose; the top 3 individuals in your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) along with the two board members.
- Next, provide a copy of the legal police clearance and the certificate of good conduct. Those should also come with payment receipts and fingerprints for Kenyans. For foreigners, you will be required to provide the necessary proof of clearance from your country of origin. Said proof of clearance should be less than 6 months old.
- Provide 3 copies of your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s constitution.
- Next, provide minutes which approve the filing of the application for your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). It should also include the election of interim or short term authorities of said Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- Once done, you will be required to pay a fee of 30,000 Kenyan Shillings for your international international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- Your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) application should also include a cover letter, suggested budget for a period of 1 year, as well as signatures of the officials and board members. The cover letter and suggested budget, should be typed and fills in block letters.
Please keep in mind that for international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), one of your top officials must be a Kenyan Citizen. Your international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) must also be able to prove or show how it will be beneficial to Kenyans in whatever sector that it will be focused on or based in.
How To Register Your Local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) In Kenya
Local in this instance means or refers to a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) owned by a Kenyan Citizen. To register your local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kenya, simply:
- Carry Out A Name Search And Reservation. This process is quite productive and fast in Kenya. It is available at all Huduma Centres in the country. It only costs 300 Kenyan Shillings and has a waiting period of 2 weeks.
- Name Reservation. After the Name Search comes the Name Reservation. For this all you have to do is fill in the Form 2.
- Upon filling your Form 2, you will have to pay a processing fee of 1,000 Kenyan Shillings.
- Once done, bring the documents to the registry. Said registry will conduct a search and endorse your preferred name for the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). If the preferred name is rejected, the Registry will give you the reason(s) why. Once the name is approved, the Registry will reserve the preferred name for 30 to 60 days.
After the Name Search and Reservation, you will then make a formal application for your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s registration.
- As the applicant, you will need to submit a duly filled Form 3 along with 2 copies of the Form 3. All 3 copies must be filled with the necessary information like the goal of your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the contact details of your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), contact information for the top 3 authorities, and the contact information for the other members of your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- Next, submit your Form 1 which will include your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s Contact Individual. The Form 1 along with the Form 3 will cost you 400 Kenyan Shillings.
- After that, submit coloured passport photographs of the top 3 individuals in your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) along with the coloured passport photographs of two board members.
- Once done, provide copies of IDs or Passports and KRA PIN certificates of the 5 individuals you chose; the top 3 individuals in your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) along with the two board members.
- Next, provide a copy of the legal police clearance and the certificate of good conduct. Those should also come with payment receipts and fingerprints for Kenyans. For foreigners, you will be required to provide the necessary proof of clearance from your country of origin. Said proof of clearance should be less than 6 months old.
- Provide 3 copies of your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)’s constitution.
- Next, provide minutes which approve the filing of the application for your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). It should also include the election of interim or short term authorities of said Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- Once done, you will be required to pay a fee of 16,000 Kenyan Shillings for your national or local local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- Your local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) application should also include a cover letter, suggested budget for a period of 1 year, as well as signatures of the officials and board members. The cover letter and suggested budget, should be typed and fills in block letters.
And there you have it! Basically everything you need to know about registering your very own Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kenya.
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