All Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country have one year to comply with the new regulation under the Public Benefits Organisations (PBO) Act.
The Act requires all NGOs to align their operations with the updated legal framework, which requires the private entities to fully disclose their sources of funding and internal structures and registration details.
Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kiphchumba Murkomen, in a gazette notice dated Friday, May 16, said the organisations had until May 13, 2026, to comply with the new regulation.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior extends the transition period under Regulation 5 (1) of the Fifth Schedule to the Act for a further period of one year," Murkomen said.
"Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) that have not registered under the Act have until May 13 2026, from May 14, 2025, to comply," the CS added.
The latest directive is set to allow thousands of NGOs to streamline their operations to be legally recognised by the government and access various benefits.
Among the benefits registered NGOs would enjoy under the new regulation include tax exemptions, participation in government procurements, and access to government training and team building.
Further, the Act also allows non-state entities to participate in selective income-generating activities provided that the organisation ploughs back the profit to fulfil its mandate.
The new piece of legislation replaces the outdated NGOs Coordination Act of 1990, which restricted all non-state entities from enjoying most of the aforementioned benefits.
Murkomen's notice to NGOs comes 2 days after PBO Director General Laxmana Kiptoo disclosed that only 4,000 out of 14,000 registered non-state organisations complied with the new directive.
“It is shocking that out of the 14,000 NGOs we have registered, only 4,000 are compliant. They must align with the law that is being operationalised for the benefit of all,” Kiptoo stated.
Addressing stakeholders on Thursday, May 15, Kiptoo urged the civil societies to support the government in implementing the new regulation that is expected to be subject to public participation from next month.
