The following registration requirements detail the formation of a charitable trust or foundation in Kenya:

1. Name of the Trust or Foundation
2. Main Objective of the Trust. The charitable trust must fall in at least one of the following categories:
   • Relief of poverty e.g. homes & orphanages, hospitals
   • Advancement of education
   • Advancement of religion
   • Advancement of Health or saving of lives
   • Advancement of environmental protection or improvement
3. Trusts beneficial to the community not falling under the preceding heads e.g. advancing art, culture, racial harmony.
4. Name of the Settlor/ Donor– Full name, copy of ID card/passport; If it’s a company, a copy of the certificate of registration
5. The proposed physical address of the trustor foundation
6. Domicile and residence of the trustor foundation
7. A Trust Deed
8. The Trustees: the trustees should show competence in running the trust. For example, if it is an Education Trust, then some should have a background in teaching, etc. The following information from the trustees is required:
   • Names and addresses in full
   • Passport photos of the trustees
   • Copies of Pin certificates of Trustees
   • Copies of national ID or Passport.
   • Curriculum vitae of the trustees
   • Statement of their accounts
   • Minutes appointing the trustees
   • Petition to the minister
   • Seal of the trust
   • Statement of donor funding where applicable.
   • Financial statement of the trustor foundation
9. Administration of the Trust: Consider whether standard procedures are appropriate or are there any special administrative procedures required. This includes the following;
   • Appointment of trustees
   • Operation of Trust accounts
   • Powers of the trustees
   • The procedure of conducting meetings
   • Amendment of the Trust deed

Procedure for Registration of a Charitable Trust in Kenya:

1. Preparation of trust deed
2. Payment of Stamp duty
3. Registration: Registration may involve two stages
4. Registration under the Registry of Documents Act
5. Incorporation under the Perpetual Successions Act

The process takes an average of 3 to 6 months to the issuance of a certificate of Incorporation.

Read more in this blog post.