How to Apply for Reservation of NGO Name in Kenya

Submit the completed application form to the NGO Coordination Board offices and pay the processing fee of KES 1000 is for the name search and reservation. The name search and reservation takes a half a day to complete. Once a name has been approved, it is reserved for a period of sixty (60) days. How to Apply for Reservation of NGO Name in Kenya

Procedure

• A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that is organized on a local, national or international level.
• All NGO’s must be registered by NGO Coordination Board in accordance with the NGO coordination Act.
  

Apply In-Person

1. The first step is make an application for reservation of a name. This is made on Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation.You can get this form by visiting the NGO Coordination Board offices or by downloading it from the NGO Bureau Website
2. You are expected to propose three (3) names in order of priority for the organization to be registered.
3. Submit the completed application form to the NGO Coordination Board offices and pay the processing fee of KES 1000 is for the name search and reservation.
   Payments by Cheque or cash should be made to:
   NGO’s co-Ordination Board Account no: 01136030582102
   Co-operative bank
   Co-op house branch
4. The name search and reservation takes a half a day to complete.
5. Once a name has been approved, it is reserved for a period of sixty (60) days.
6. An applicant can renew the reservation on the expiry of the name reservation period for a further sixty (60) days on payment of a further Kenya Shillings Five hundred (KES 500).

Required Documents

• Duly filled Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation
  

Office Locations & Contacts

The Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board – Head Office
15th floor Co-op Bank House, Haile Selassie Avenue
P.O. Box 44617-0100
Nairobi, KENYA
Telephone: +254 (20) 2214044 / +254 (20) 2214044
E-mail: info@ngobureau.or.ke
Website: NGO Bureau

Kisumu regional Office
Adala Otuko road, behind St Joseph Catholic church
Milimani, Kisumu
Telephone: +254 (20) 2662604

Mombasa Regional Office
NSSF Building 5th Floor
Nkurumah Road, Mombasa
Tel: 0776162231

Garissa Regional Office
Regional Co-ordinator’s Office 2nd floor
(Former provincial Commissioners Office)
Tel: 0733380280

Eldoret Regional Office
Deputy County Commissioners Office- Eldoret East
Kapsoya
Tel: 0723278047

Eligibility

• Any individual who want to start an NGO is eligible to make an application to reserve a name.
  

Fees

• Name search and reservation Ksh1,000
  

Validity

• The validity period of the name is forever.

• Once a name has been approved, it is reserved for a period of sixty (60) days.
  

Documents to Use

• Form 2 Application for Reservation of Name of Organisation

Processing Time

• The processing time is half a day.

Instructions

1. Before an application to change a name is made, the applicant should submit the name of the NGO for approval from the Director of the Non-Governmental Organizations Board. This is done by filling Form 2 and Submitting the filled form to the Registry for conducting the search.
2. The registry will search and recommend the reservation.
3. Submission of reserved name to the Programmes Manager for approval.
4. Pay applicable fees and submit proof of payment together with the application.
   

Required Information

1. Full name of applicant
2. Address
3. Three proposed names in order of priority.

Need for the Document

• An NGO needs to be registered for it to carry out its objectives in Kenya. For it to be register it needs a name to operate with. Reservation allows the NGO to reserve its name during its registration.
• Any Non-Governmental Organization that wants to register or change its name is supposed to seek from the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board approval of the name.
  

Information which might help

• The Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board is a State Corporation established by the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act (Cap 19) of 1990. The Board has the responsibility of regulating and enabling the NGO sector in Kenya.
• The Board is currently under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
• All NGO applications should be typed or filled in block letters.
• All applications MUST contain ORIGINAL signatures of the officials and members as applicable.

External Links

• Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act 1990 Kenya
  

Others

Reasons for rejecting proposed names by applicant

• The following are the reasons why proposed names are rejected:

1. Those that are similar in entirety to a name already existing in the register except in instances where the organization is sponsored by an existing organization as a chapter/branch
2. Those that have three initial words that are similar to an existing name
3. Those whose names are similar to that of an existing government department, existing and legally registered organization
4. Those which make derogatory or offensive reference to a particular community, group of people or religion
5. Those whose names suggest or make reference to an intention to evangelize or propagate the faith
6. Those whose acronym is similar to an existing name or acronym in the register
7. Those that when shortened might have similarity with an existing acronym or name in the register
8. Those whose meaning appear unclear except in instances where the organization is registered elsewhere outside the country to carry out the work of an NGO
9. Those that involve an amalgamation of the names of individuals
10. Those who seek to use individuals’ names without their written consent and or that of their families.
11. Where the proposed name is already in existence