Govt issues 60-day compliance window for registered societies to file annual returns
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 15, 2026The Office of Attorney General (OAG) and the Department of Justice, in a public notice, have reminded all registered societies in Kenya to observe the statutory obligations of submitting an annual return to the Registrar of Societies under the Societies Act (Cap. 108).
The Registrar, in a notice on Friday, May 15, 2026, in Nairobi, stated that all registered societies must comply with the provisions of Section 30(1) of the Societies Act and Rule 13 of the Societies Rules 1968 for the submission of their annual returns.
“The office of the Registrar of Societies is established under the Societies Act (Cap. 108), Laws of Kenya, and is mandated to register and regulate registered societies under the said Act. The Registrar of Societies wishes to notify all registered societies of their obligation to file annual returns in accordance with the law,” the OAG’s notice read.
An annual return is a legal requirement for companies. The notice further stipulates that all registered societies shall provide returns, accounts, and other documents as prescribed to the Registrar in the prescribed form on or before the prescribed period every year. The law also stipulates that annual returns must be filed on or before 31st March of every year for the previous calendar year.
Form 1 is to be used to complete the returns and must be signed by not less than three officers of the respective society, as set out in the Schedule to the Societies Rules.
60-day grace period.
The Registrar of Societies has given a grace period of sixty (60) days from the date of the notice for societies which are not in accordance with the regulations to regularise themselves.
In this period, the organisations affected are expected to submit all outstanding annual returns without any punitive action.
The warning to societies not to comply within the designated time is that they will be subject to enforcement actions as provided in Section 12(1)(e) of the Societies Act. These measures may include issuance of a notice to show cause and could ultimately lead to suspension or cancellation of registration.
The Registrar appealed to all societies to address the issue with utmost seriousness to prevent any hindrances to their future legal existence and working.
Compliance Support
For clarification or further enquiries, societies have been directed to get in touch with the Registrar of Societies in their offices or using the contacts provided.
The order comes as part of the government’s efforts to enhance compliance of registered societies and increase transparency in their affairs, as well as to ensure good governance of the registered societies in the country.