LEGAL NOTICE.. THE SOCIETIES ACT (Cap.108) IN EXERCISE of the powers confered by section 53 ofthe Societies Act, the ‘Attomey General makes te following Rules— “THE SOCIETIES (RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES) RULES, 2015 Cation 1. These Rules may be cited as the Societies (Religious Societies) Rules, 2015. eerretion 2.1m these Rules, unless the context otherwise equirs— cap. 108. “Act” means the Societies Act; “officer” includes the chairperson, secretary, treassre, committee snemibers and registered trustees ofa religious society “Registrar” has the same meaning as assigned to it under the Act “religious leader” includes a clergy, imam, swaai, rabbi or any other ttle assigned toa religions leaders “eligious society” means a society which is of a religious nature registered or exempted ftom registration under seetion 9 of the Act; umbrella religious society” meas a society consisting of religious societies which share a common doctrine. ‘Applcaionof 3. These Rules shall apply toa religious society and shall apply is thes Rules. dition to the Societies Rules, 1968 LW, of 1968 Reguicemens for 4, (1) religious sovity which has its headquarters outside Kenys region of peepee ‘religious society ee Tete gyn hese re is np al ae ‘word “Kenyan Chapter" at the end ofthat mame;Religious sociey id eadguaters inKenya (@) submit letter of authorization from the headyuarters and & Copy of @ duly notarized registration cerifieate of the headquarters; (© comply with the registration requirements set out under section 9 of the Act , the Societies Rules 1968 and these Rules; @) specify the physical address from wihich it intends 10 operate, which shall include details on the land referenes umber oF plot number, bung, floor nd the street or road ‘on which the religious society shall be situate, (@) have atleast a third ofits officers being kenya citizens; and (6 where it has foreign religious leaders and fiers, submit in respect of each religious leader and oficer— () _acerified copy of a work permit issued under the ‘Kenya Citizenship and Immigratin Act, 20115 an alien identification card isted ander the ‘Kenya Citizenship and Immigration ‘et, 2011; Gi) one passpor size photography end (iv) @ letter of recommendation from the relevant embassy (@) where the religious society has designate Toca! religious Teaders and officers, submit details of the documents specified in rule 6 5. (1) A religious society with headquarters in Kenya shall— (e) comply with the registration requirements set out under Section 9 of the Act, the Societies Rules, 1968 and these Rules; () submit a copy of its Constitution which shall contin — (ja clause clearly indicating the statement and doctrine of faith; and Gi) programmes, ministis, charitable activities fand education activities undertaken by thereligious society and details of persons coordinating these activites, (6) have at east third ofits oicers being kenyan citizens; (@) specify the location from which it intends to operate which sll inelode the details on the land referesce number oF plot suber, building, floor and the stret or road on which ‘the religious society shall be situated; (©) where it has foreign religious leaders and efficers, submit in respect ofeach religious leader and office— (@) a certified copy ofthe work permit issued under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011; fan alien identifiation card issied under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 20115, (one passpon size photograph and (6 register all its branches established in Kenya in the peseribed form and specify the location rom which the branches ae to operate. (2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(9, a branch ligioussoviety shall— (@) submit to the Registrar— (@ the same name as its headquarters and shall add the ‘word "Branch atthe end ofthat name (i) a teterof authorisation from the headquarters and a ‘copy of a duly certified registration certificate of the headquarters; (&) comply with the other registration requirements set out under section 9 of the Act, the Societies Rules 1968 and these Rules; (©) specify the location from whi itimtends to operate;(@) have at least third of and offices being kexyan citizens; (where it has foreign religious leaders and officers, submit for each religious leader and officer— ()_cetified copy of the work permit issued under the Kenya Citzenship and Immigration Act, 2011; Gi) an alien identification card issued under the Kenya Citizenship ant Immigration ‘Act, 20115 (ii) one pessport photograph; and Gv) @ letter of recommendation fiom the relevant embassy. (6) A religious society which fils to register any ofits branches and cach officer of the religious society who is in default commits an ‘offence and shall be Tiable, on conviction, toa fine not exceeding twenty thousand shilling aud eact office shall be liable to imgrisonment for 8 term not exceeding tree years, o to both Decumens tobe 641) tn addition to the requirements for registation provided mite es eras an Sa religion soiy stl shit {@) the following information relating to each of its local “officers and local religious leaders— (a copy of the national identification card personal idetifieation number and one passpot photosraphs i) a cenifid copy of the theological certificate from a ‘duly registered and acereited theological institution; (ii) tax clearance or exemption cetifcate; Gv) a membership certificate and eter of recommendation from the relevant umbrella religious society, (6) declaration of any familial elation ofthe religious 4Regivemento siriy te ceva of resitaon, Inspection Regie. Requirement for region of terra reoas soci leaders snd officers; (b) details of affiliations or partnerships of the religious society within and ouside Kenya (6) a lis ofall religious leaders, including a copy of theit personal identification number, national identification card and are passport photograph and (@) alist and information on all the branches af the religious society 7.(1) A teligios society shall display, ina conspiwous pace a the location of its operations, the certificate of registration issued under these Rules 2) A religious society which fils to display the cenifieate of registration as required under paragraph (1) and each officer of the religious society who isin default, commits an offence and shall be Table, on convietion, to fine aot exveeding ten thoisand shillings and ach office: shall be liable to imprisonment for 8 ter not exceeding three years, orto both. 8. The Registrar may, at any time, inspect the operations of religious society to confirm compliance with the provisions of these Rules. 9. (1) A religious society intending to be registered as an umbrella seligius society shall apply for registration inthe manser set out under section 9 ofthe Act. (2) For the purposes of registering the umbrella religious society ‘under paragraph (1), the religious society shall— (@) have @ membership of not less than two thousand five hundred religious societies (©) submit to the Repstar— (the names ofthe officers ofthe unbrlla. religious society;Responses tombe ‘signs soc. Gi) @ copy of the national identification card, personal Fdenifetion number and one passport photograph ofeach ofits officers and (Gi) details of the physical location and address of the registered office which shall include the details on the land reference number or plot number, building, floor and the street of road in whien the religious society shall be situated and (9) Subject to paragraph (@), the Registrar may, with the approval ofthe Minister, repster an umbrell religious society with two thousand five hundred members onan interim basis (4) The interim registration under paragraph (3) shall be for period of two years within which the umbrella rligioas society shall register five thousand members. (5) The interim registration of an umbrella religious society which shall not have registered five thousand members as presribed under paragraph (4) stl apse. (6 Each rclgious society shall be a member of an unbrella religious society. (1) A celigious society which falls to register as a member of aa ‘umbrella body and each officer ofthe religious society who isin default ‘commits an offence and shall be liable, on convict to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings and each officer shall be liable to 8 imprisonment for a term not exceeding one yea, oF to both 10, (1) An umbrella religious society shall provide @ forum for consultation among the religious societies and shall form the platform for self-regulation ofthe religious society @) Without prejudice tothe generality of the provisions of paragraph (1), an umbrella religious society shall be required to— (@) develop a code of conduct for its members;Powerat Regier to sele spats under ecto 18 of te () review doctrines and religious teachings of its membership; (6) review the qualifications ofa eligious later, (@ review the curiculum and traning offered by theological institutions and the educational activities of religious societies; (e) establish an internal dispute resolution meshanism; (recommend new applications for registration of religious society; (¢) provide a platform for consultation, engagement and dialogue between the Goverment and religious (@) promote the sharing of knowledge amongst religious ‘communities of their respective principles and values, swith the sim to build a peaceftl and just society in Kenya; ) promote interfaith cooperation and creste« culture of| peace, justice and healing amongst celigicus societies; (6) establish « forum for deliberating on areas of common interest and concern; and Wo formulate plans_and implement collsborative action programs based on shared moral commitments, 11, (1) Subject to section 18 of the Act, the Registrar may, on request by any concemed party or on his own motion, farm a committee ‘comprising of such number of members ofthe relgioes society as the Registrar may consider necessary to manage the religious society, pending the Final outcome ofthe internal disput resoluion process (2) The commitise formed under paragraph (I), may convene dispute resolution meetings t arbitrate the disputes among religious society officers and members.Regiserof embers, holdings anual ese eating 12. (1) A religious society shall maintain a register ofits members in accordance with section 25 ofthe Act (@) The register of members shall be updated every yeu: (6) The register referred to under paragraph (1) shal be in Form RS ‘A stout inthe Schedule, (8) A religious society which fils to register the members of the religious society as required under this rule and each officer who is. in default commits an offence and shall be liable, on convition to a fine not exceeding. ten thousand shillings and each officer sal be lable to imprisonment for aterm not exceeding one year, orto bth 13. Upon holding an annual general mecting in sscordance with section 29 of the Act, religious society shall, within fourteen days after ‘the annual general meeting, submit to the Registrar— (2) a notice ofthe meeting issved and signed by the Secretary or by any oer authorized officer; (2) minutes of the annual general meting duly signed by the airman, soretary and treasurer and sul stmped with the official stamp ofthe religious society; and (6) list of members in attendance during the annual general + which list shall specify the full names, membership number , the national identification card number and signature of the member. 14. A religious society shall submit, together with the annual returns — (@) audited accounts forthe financial year (0) revised repister of members indicating changes in the ruinber of members and providing details of any new members and the members who have ceased to be members; (©) alist ofall religious leaders for that year, indicating any new religious leaders a st out in Form RS.B;Apolnaest nt rol of Tate. (@) declaration of the assets and liabilities of the religious society, (6) a tax exemption or clearance certificate ofthe religious society; (9 bank statements ofall accounts operated by the religious society; (6) the details ofthe physical address ofthe ligious society and branches, if any, which shall include the details on ‘the land reference number or plot number, building, floor and the street or road on which te religious society shall, be situated; (0) and relevant operating licenses and peenits as shall be etermined by the Registrar, (© a statement on the source of funding cf the religious society; () a detailed statement of the charitable, educational and other commercial sctvities carried out by the religious society which shall be duly suthentcated by two thins cf the inembers present during the annul g:neral necting; and the dates when the name of the religious society was changed or the Constitution of the religious society was amended, 15, (1) A religious society shall subject to section 29 (1) (b) appoint trustees who shall be duly registered by the Registrar of Truss through a Trast Deed. (2) Upon the issuance ofa cenitiate of incorporation ofthe Trust Parsuant to paragraph (I), the secretary of the religious society shall submit to the Registrar — () a cenified copy ofthe Trust Deed; (8) certified copy of the Ces Trt; jeate of Incorporation ofthe (©) the minutes ofthe meeting appointing the rustes;Submision of| fad decane, (6) two passport size photograps ofeach tree; and (@) alist of members in attendance during the meeting, (G) The secretary of a religious society shall within fourteen days of any change of tustees, in writing, notify the Registrar ofthe change. (@) A religious society shall publish the appointment and change of the trustees of the religious society in two daily newspapers of national circulation, 16. A religious society which submits fraudulent or falsified documents for registration under rules 4, 5, 6, 13 ard LS and each officer ofthe religious society who is in default commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings and, each officer shall be Hible to impeisonmert fo term not exceeding one year, oF to both 17. A religious society and an umbrella religious society existing immediately before the coming into operation ofthese Rules shall be required to comply with the provisions ofthese Rules, within one year {rom the date these Rules come into operation 10FORMRS.A, 12) REGISTER OF MEMBERS [ [RUE | ENTIFICATION | MEMBERSHIP [PHYSICAL [DATE OF —] DATEOF NaMEor | NUMBER summer” — | apostat | xDMission | CRasaTION MEMBERS. ‘Appress | INTO Row MEBERSM | MEMBERSHIP 1 Ja. 4 (Signed) Officers this.FORM RS. B 140) PARTICULARS OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS -Society hereby provides the particulars of for the year ending 31" December, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12 (6) of The Societies (Religious Societies) Rules, 2015. FULT NAME” IDENTIFICATION | MENIGERSHIF- PHVSICAL | THEOCOGY | DITEOF [BATE OF oF numer’ Nona" | rosa” OMISON (Signed) Dated at Made on thea Grrnu MuIGar, Attorney General