The Office of the Attorney General has issued a fresh warning to societies, warning that organizations that fail to submit their annual returns risk suspension or cancellation of their registration.
In a notice on Friday, May 15, the Office of the Registrar of Societies announced a 60-day grace period for non-compliant societies to file their returns.
“All registered societies that have not filed their annual returns as required are hereby granted a grace period of sixty (60) days from the date of publication of this notice to comply,” the notice read.
The registrar warned that strict enforcement measures would be taken against societies that ignore the directive once the grace period expires.
The Attorney General said filing annual returns is a legal requirement under Section 30(1) of the Societies Act (Cap 108), which requires every registered society to submit returns, accounts, and other documents each year. Rule 13 of the Societies Rules, 1968, sets the deadline for submitting these returns as March 31 for the previous calendar year.
“Societies that fail to submit the required annual returns within the stated period shall be liable to enforcement action in accordance with Section 12(1)(e) of the Societies Act, which includes issuance of a notice to show cause and may result in the cancellation or suspension of registration,” the notice added.
The Office of the Registrar of Societies urged all affected organizations to move with speed and comply with the legal requirements within the stipulated timeline to avoid punitive action.
“All societies are therefore urged to take immediate steps to comply with the law within the stipulated period,” the notice stated.
The Office of the Attorney General said the Registrar of Societies is responsible for regulating registered entities and ensuring they follow legal and governance requirements.
Societies seeking clarification or assistance have been advised to contact the Registrar of Societies at the Ground Floor of Sheria House in Nairobi via telephone numbers 020-2227461, 0732 529995, or 0700 072929, or through email at communications@ag.go.ke and societies@ag.go.ke.
