Registration
Self-help groups share most characteristics with NGO’s and sometimes are classified as Non- Governmental Organizations; these groups are used to pull together savings that venture into profit oriented initiatives and have proven to be great drivers in rural prosperity.
They are registered under the department of social services in the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Services or as NGO’s under the Ministry of Co-operatives.
The members can apply for a charitable status in tax exemption from the Kenya Revenue Authority: however this financial help is only limited the group members.
Registration Requirements SHGs In Kenya
- Ensure that all the members in the group share a common mission and vision for group. This is the main reason why you are forming the group in the first place. State the mission and vision statements in the groups’ constitution.
- The group must have ten members or more.
- The group must have set of by-laws or a constitution governing the running of the group, its membership and showing its officials.
- Visit the nearest DC's Office, you will find the youth Office there.
- Minutes appointing the officials and the intention of the group to be registered and the registration name should be available.
- A group constitution and a dully signed membership list.
- Registration fee = 1000 Ksh with membership cards going for 30/= each.
-The names of the members, their copies of Identity cards and signatures appended.
Once the SHG is fully registered
The members can apply for a charitable status in tax exemption from the Kenya Revenue Authority: however this financial help is only limited the group members.
- The group must furnish the registrar with the annual returns at a fee of Sh100. Failure to file returns is an offence and a group that fails to do the same can be de registered.
- Any change in group officials or office titles should be notified to the registrar within 14 days of notice and signed with three officials.
- A group planning to amend its constitution must obtain permission from the registrar. This too must be signed by three officials, the chairperson, secretary and treasurer.
-The group is required to hold an annual general meeting once a year and all members must be invited.
- Apart from the annual returns, a group is required to pay some fee from time to time. These include change of postal address, change of officials, certified copy of a certificate, application for constitution amendment, application for dissolution of group, application for confirmation letters of group officials and name search. These fees vary from time to time and from office to office.
- Application form to register as community based organizations at the Ministry of Co-operatives & registrar of societies, the application fees for this is Kshs.5000.