Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has extended the deadline for Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) to register under the new regulatory framework by one year, giving them until May 13, 2026, to comply with provisions of the Public Benefits Organisation Act, 2013.

In a Gazette Notice dated May 16, 2025, Murkomen said the extension takes effect from May 14, 2025, and applies to all charitable organisations that are yet to transition under the new law.

“It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration extends the transition period under Regulation 5(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the Act for a further period of one (1) year,” the notice reads.

Draft regulations

During a media briefing on May 15, 2025, Public Benefits Organisations Regulatory Authority (PBORA) Director General Laxmana Kiptoo reported that the regulatory authority is currently finalising the draft regulations that will operationalize the PBO Act.

He announced plans for nationwide consultations between June and July to gather input from stakeholders.

“Our current focus is the finalisation of the draft regulations that will bring the PBO Act to life. And we are not doing this in isolation; the process is wide-ranging and inclusive. Between June and July 2025, we will be holding county-level public participation forums across all 47 counties, seeking direct input from stakeholders,” Kiptoo stated.

He further noted that over the last three months, PBORA has been engaging with various stakeholders to build consensus around the implementation of the Act, emphasising its importance.

“This act ushers in a new regulatory framework that supports a dynamic civil society ecosystem while reinforcing mechanisms for accountability, sustainability, and transparency… This spirit of collaboration is both encouraging and essential as we move forward,” Kiptoo added.

PBO Act

The Public Benefits Organisation Act, enacted in 2013, officially came into force in May 2024—repealing the decades-old Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Act of 1990.

The new law introduces a modern legal framework for the regulation of charitable and civil society organisations in Kenya.

Registered PBOs stand to benefit from several incentives under the law, including tax exemptions, simplified work permit procedures for expatriate staff, and access to government-supported training and capacity-building initiatives.

The act also permits PBOs to engage in income-generating activities, provided the profits are reinvested in furthering their organisational missions—an allowance not provided under the previous legal regime.