Attorney General Issues 60-Day Ultimatum to All Registered Societies

The Office of the Attorney General has issued a public notice directing all registered societies in Kenya to comply with statutory requirements on the filing of annual returns, warning that failure to do so could lead to enforcement action, including suspension or cancellation of registration.

In a press release dated May 15, 2026, the Office of the Attorney General said the Registrar of Societies had observed non-compliance among a number of registered societies and was now giving affected organisations a final opportunity to regularise their status within a sixty-day grace period.

“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 statement read.

The office further reminded organisations that compliance with annual filing obligations remains a legal requirement under Kenyan law.

According to the statement, Section 30(1) of the Societies Act compels every registered society to furnish annual returns on or before the prescribed date.

Legal Requirement On Annual Returns

The Attorney General’s office further cited Rule 13 of the Societies Rules, 1968, which outlines the procedure and timelines for filing annual returns.

“The annual return shall be furnished on or before the 31st March in each year, in respect of the immediately preceding calendar year,” the statement said.

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The rules also require that the returns be submitted using Form I contained in the Schedule to the Rules and must be signed by three officials of the respective society before submission to the Registrar.

The Registrar of Societies warned that many organisations had either delayed or failed to submit the required documentation within the stipulated timelines, prompting the government to issue the compliance notice.

“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 statement added.

Risk Of Deregistration

The Office of the Attorney General warned that societies that fail to comply within the sixty-day window would face legal consequences under the Societies Act.

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“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,” the notice stated.

The government urged all affected societies to act immediately and ensure that their records are updated within the prescribed period to avoid punitive action.

“All societies are therefore urged to take immediate steps to comply with the law within the stipulated period,” the Attorney General’s office said.

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KRA officers busy at work. PHOTO/KRA