The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has issued a public notice directing all registered societies in Kenya to file annual returns within the next 60 days or risk enforcement action, including possible deregistration.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement released on Friday, the Registrar of Societies reminded all officially recognised groups and associations that filing annual returns is a legal requirement under the Societies Act (Cap 108) Laws of Kenya.

According to the notice, every registered society is expected to submit annual returns, accounts, and other required documents to the Registrar before the prescribed timeline each year.

“The Registrar of Societies wishes to notify all registered societies of their obligation to file annual returns in accordance with the law,” the notice read in part.

📌 What You Need to Know

“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.”

According to the Registrar, Section 30(1) of the Societies Act compels all registered societies to furnish annual returns as part of efforts to enhance accountability and compliance within the sector.

Additionally, the law requires all societies to file their returns on or before the end of March in every financial year.

As such, the registered societies, which include hundreds of registered SACCOs, regulated by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA), are required to submit their returns using a special form provided under their governing rules .

The form, as per the law, is required to be signed by at least three officials of the respective society before it is submitted.

Even so, the OAG noted that a majority of these societies are yet to comply with the legal requirement, prompting the issuance of the 60-day timeline.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke