How to Register a CBO in Kenya: Requirements, Fees and Steps

Updated 28 October 2026

Quick answer: a community-based organisation (CBO) in Kenya is registered by the State Department for Social Protection through its sub-county social development offices and Huduma Centres. You do a name search, then submit the application form with your CBO constitution, signed minutes showing elected officials, a signed member list with ID and phone numbers, copies of every member’s ID and, if groups are joining together, an MOU and their original certificates. The registration fee is KSh 5,000.

This guide covers who qualifies, the documents, fees, what happens after registration and how a CBO differs from a self-help group. It is based on the State Department for Social Protection’s group registration page and the Community Groups Registration Act (Cap. 108A) on Kenya Law, both read on 25 October 2026.

What Is a CBO Under Kenyan Law?

The Community Groups Registration Act, which commenced on 26 July 2022, governs self-help groups, community projects and CBOs. It defines amalgamation as two or more community groups uniting to form a community-based organisation while each group keeps its own identity. In practice, a CBO is usually an umbrella organisation serving a wider community, while a self-help group serves mainly its own members.

The Act’s definition of a community group excludes Public Benefit Organisations, NGOs and groups formed to champion a political cause. If you plan to work nationally with donor funding, you may need a different registration.

Who Qualifies

Section 9 of the Act says a group qualifies for registration if:

• all members are adults;
• the members share a common purpose; and
• the group has at least ten members, or at least five for a special interest community group declared by the Director of Social Development.

The proposed name must not be identical to, or so similar as to mislead people about, an existing registered community group, PBO or NGO. That is why the name search comes first.

Documents Needed to Register a CBO

The State Department lists these requirements:

1. A name search.
2. Minutes of the meeting seeking registration, showing the elected officials, attached to the application form.
3. A list of members, signed, with each person’s name, position, ID number and mobile number.
4. The CBO’s constitution.
5. Copies of the IDs of all members.
6. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) where the CBO is formed by amalgamation, that is, where several groups come together under an umbrella.
7. The original certificates of the groups that are amalgamating.
8. Payment of the registration fee of KSh 5,000.

The Act includes a Model Community Group Constitution in its Second Schedule, and says a group may adopt it. The model covers the group’s name and purpose, objectives, membership rules, office bearers and their terms, finances and banking, use of funds, assets, records, meetings, elections, dispute resolution, amendments and dissolution, with every member signing a commitment clause.

How to Register a CBO, Step by Step

1. Hold a founding meeting. Agree the purpose, adopt a constitution and elect office bearers (at least a chairperson, secretary and treasurer). Record minutes.
2. Do a name search. Ask at your sub-county social development office or a Huduma Centre. The State Department also runs a name search for community groups on its CDMIS system.
3. Collect member details. Prepare the signed member list and copies of every member’s ID.
4. For an umbrella CBO, get each member group’s resolution to amalgamate, sign an MOU and gather their original certificates.
5. Submit and pay. Lodge the application at the sub-county social development office or Huduma Centre and pay KSh 5,000.
6. Wait for a decision. Section 13 of the Act requires the Director to register or refuse within 14 days. A refusal must be in writing with reasons, and you can appeal in writing to the Cabinet Secretary.

The State Department says it registers groups in all sub-counties and at 53 Huduma Centres, and also registers integrated groups for refugees.

After Registration: What a CBO Must Do

The State Department says a registered CBO must:

• renew its certificate every year;
• submit quarterly progress reports to the registering authority; and
• let the registering authority see its records on request.

Failing to do so can lead to deregistration at sub-county level. The Act adds more duties for all community groups:

• keep a register of members, with each member’s name, contact address and date of joining (failing to keep one can mean a fine of up to KSh 100,000);
• keep financial records for seven years and name a treasurer responsible for the accounts;
• notify the Director within one month of changing office bearers, the constitution or the physical address; and
• a group that fails to renew for four years is treated as voluntarily dissolved.

Misusing a group’s money is a criminal offence: section 37 sets a fine of up to KSh 3 million, two years in prison, or both.

CBO vs Self-Help Group

For the smaller option, see our guide on how to register a self-help group in Kenya.

Opening a Bank Account and Getting Funding

The State Department says registered groups are linked to government agencies, non-state actors and microfinance institutions for support. Under section 21 of the Act, a group may invest its spare funds and borrow money as its members resolve. If your group runs a business, our guides to getting a KRA PIN for an organisation and the best saccos in Kenya may help.

Contacts

State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, Social Security House, Bishop Road, Nairobi (P.O. Box 40326-00100). Telephone +254 20 272 9800 or +254 20 272 6497. Email info@socialprotection.go.ke. For a specific application, start at your sub-county social development office.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to register a CBO in Kenya?

KSh 5,000, according to the State Department for Social Protection.

How many members does a CBO need?

The Act requires at least ten adult members, or five for a special interest community group.

How long does CBO registration take?

The Act gives the Director 14 days from receiving an application to register or refuse it.

Can a CBO register online?

The name search for community groups is on the State Department’s CDMIS system, but applications are handled through sub-county social development offices and Huduma Centres.

Last verified 25 October 2026 on socialprotection.go.ke (Group Registration page) and the Community Groups Registration Act, Cap. 108A, on Kenya Law.