NGOs & Development Partners

NGO and development-sector lawyers for international development organisations, foundations and humanitarian agencies operating in Kenya. We advise on NGO and PBO registration, NGO Coordination Board compliance, grant and donor agreements, employment and expatriate immigration, data protection, and local procurement — the recurring legal workload of running a compliant programme office in Kenya.

NGO & Development Partner Law in Kenya

Kenya hosts one of Africa’s most active civil-society and development-partner ecosystems — home to thousands of local and international NGOs, UN agencies, bilateral development organisations and social enterprises. OLM Law advises NGOs, foundations, international organisations and development financiers on the legal and regulatory requirements for operating in Kenya, from registration through to programme delivery and exit.

The regulatory landscape

International and national NGOs are registered and regulated by the NGO Coordination Board under the Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordination Act. Organisations with charitable objectives may also register with the registrar of societies or as trusts. UN agencies and bilateral development organisations operate under headquarters agreements and privileges-and-immunities frameworks. The Public Benefit Organisations Act, though not yet fully in force, will reshape the sector when implemented. Tax obligations and exemptions are administered by the Kenya Revenue Authority. We help organisations understand and navigate all of these requirements.

How we help

• NGO registration and compliance — registration with the NGO Board, annual returns, re-registration and change-of-status applications.
• Governance and constitutions — drafting and reviewing constitutions, governance frameworks and board advisory mandates.
• Grant and partnership agreements — reviewing and negotiating donor agreements, sub-grant arrangements and implementing-partner contracts.
• Employment and volunteers — staff contracts, expatriate work permits, volunteer agreements and HR-policy compliance.
• Tax and duty exemptions — advising on income-tax exemptions, VAT relief and customs-duty exemptions for NGO operations.

Relevant expertise

We draw on our Corporate & Commercial, Employment, Tax and Dispute Resolution teams for NGO and development-partner clients — linking to each of those practice-area pages.

To register or operate as an NGO or development partner in Kenya, contact OLM Law.