By WMW
The government has extended by one year the transition period for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to register under Kenya’s new Public Benefits Organisations (PBO) legal framework.
In a special gazette notice dated May 14, 2026, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Government Coordination Kipchumba Murkomen announced that existing NGOs will now have until May 14, 2027 to complete their transition to the framework established under the Public Benefits Organizations Act, 2013.
The extension was issued pursuant to paragraph 5(2) of the Fifth Schedule of the Act.
The Public Benefits Organizations Authority said the move is intended to facilitate smooth automatic transition of organisations into the new legal regime.
“The Authority is committed to facilitating all organisations to automatically transit to the new framework,” the regulator which is headed by Dr. Laxmana Peter Kiptoo said in a statement to stakeholders.
The PBO Act was enacted in 2013 to replace the older NGO Coordination Act and provide a broader legal framework governing charitable, religious, humanitarian and civil society organisations operating in Kenya.
The law seeks to modernise regulation of the sector by recognising organisations as Public Benefits Organisations rather than NGOs, while also enhancing accountability, transparency and operational independence.
Although the Act was passed more than a decade ago, implementation delays and concerns raised by civil society groups over operational regulations slowed its full transition for several years.
The PBO framework officially came into force in 2024 following sustained pressure from civil society organisations and development partners who argued that the older NGO law was restrictive and outdated.
Under the new law, organisations previously registered as NGOs are required to transition automatically into PBOs while aligning their governance structures and operations with the new legal requirements.
Stakeholders in the sector have welcomed the latest extension, saying many organisations still require additional time to harmonise registration details, governance documents and compliance systems.
Civil society groups have also argued that the transition is significant because the PBO Act provides stronger legal protections for non-profit organisations, including safeguards against arbitrary deregistration and greater clarity on tax incentives and public benefit activities.
Kenya hosts thousands of NGOs and charitable organisations involved in humanitarian assistance, governance, health, education, human rights advocacy and environmental conservation.
The sector remains a major contributor to employment, social development and donor-funded programmes across the country.
The Interior Ministry said the extension will ensure orderly compliance while avoiding disruptions to the operations of organisations serving vulnerable communities and implementing public interest programmes.
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