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Charities in Kenya

GiveRadar tracks 4,341 charities, nonprofits and NGOs in Kenya, compiled from Kenya's public benefit and NGO register together with open NGO directories. Listing records that an organization is registered; it is a name-and-number directory, not a list vetted for charitable quality or impact, and tax-exempt status is a separate matter handled by the Kenya Revenue Authority.

4,341
Organizations listed
67.1%
Registration number on file
Community Development
Largest cause area
1 per 13,253
Residents per organization
Matt Timmermans Reviewed by Matt Timmermans Founder of GiveRadar · Checked August 23, 2026
Where this data comes from  ·  How current it is
The directory

All charities and NGOs in Kenya

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The register at a glance

How many NGOs and charities are there in Kenya?

GiveRadar lists 4,341 NGOs and charities in Kenya, compiled from the country's public-benefit and NGO register and open NGO directories. 2,913 of them (67.1%) carry a registration number, and the average integrity assessment across Kenyan rows is 36.5 out of 100.

Whole-register totals
4,341 Organizations listed
67.1% Carry a Registration number 2,913 of them
1 per 13,253 Residents per organization Against a population of 57,532,493 (World Bank, 2025)
36.5/100 Average integrity assessment A measure of disclosure, not impact or effectiveness

GiveRadar holds a website for 150 Kenyan organizations (3.5%) and an email for 77 (1.8%), because Kenya's public NGO and PBO listings publish little more than a name and a registration number. The register documents that an organization exists, not how to reach it or how it spends money, so the average integrity assessment for Kenyan rows, 36.5 out of 100, is a read of how little is published, not a judgment on any single organization.

By category

What causes do Kenya's NGOs and charities support?

Community development is the largest cause category among the Kenyan NGOs GiveRadar tracks, with 2,427 organizations, followed by health at 474, education at 322, environment at 282, social services at 268, arts and culture at 102 and youth development at 100. These categories are inferred from each organization's recorded sector, not from a verified activity record.

01 Community Development 2,427 56% 02 Health 474 11% 03 Education 322 7% 04 Environment 282 6% 05 Social Services 268 6% 06 Arts & Culture 102 2% 07 Youth Development 100 2% 08 Advocacy & Civil Rights 86 2% 09 Human Services 81 2% 10 Religion 63 1% 11 Disaster Relief 45 1% 12 Science & Technology 37 1%
Data sources

Where does GiveRadar's Kenya data come from?

GiveRadar's Kenyan organizations are compiled from the country's official NGO and public-benefit register, kept by the PBO Regulatory Authority under the Public Benefit Organizations Act 2013, which replaced the NGO Coordination Board, together with open NGO directories and IATI development-aid data. The public register lists a name and a reference number; it carries no financial statements or contact details, and tax-exempt status is granted separately by the Kenya Revenue Authority.

PBO Regulatory Authority register pbora.go.ke ↗
Kenya's public register of public benefit organisations under the PBO Act 2013, listing each organization's name and reference number
4,341 records 100% coverage
Kenya Revenue Authority kra.go.ke ↗
Where a charitable organisation applies for the income-tax exemption that makes qualifying donations deductible, separately from registration
One GiveRadar profile
4,341
Share of profiles carrying each field
Financial return 0.3%
Expense breakdown 0%
Website 3.5%
Contact email 1.8%
Freshness

How current is GiveRadar's Kenya data?

August 22, 2026 Register last refreshed The most recent full pass over Kenya's NGO and public-benefit register data. Any profile with its own newer edit carries that later date instead.
August 23, 2026 This page last reviewed When the figures, wording and sources on this page were last checked against the register.

GiveRadar refreshes Kenyan data in periodic bulk passes rather than a continuous feed, and Kenya's public listings are updated on the authorities' own schedules. A very recent registration, a transition to PBO status or a deregistration may not appear here yet.

Learn more with our country guide

Giving in Kenya

How the charity sector is regulated, what kinds of nonprofits operate, and how to evaluate them before you give.

How many NGOs and charities are there in Kenya, and who registers them?

GiveRadar tracks 4,341 charities, nonprofits and NGOs in Kenya. They are compiled from Kenya's official NGO and public-benefit register, now kept by the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority (PBORA), together with open NGO directories. The public register lists a name and a reference number, so this is a registration directory, not a list vetted for charitable quality.

Kenya's nonprofit forms include the public benefit organisation (PBO), the society, the company limited by guarantee and the charitable trust. Since 2024 the Public Benefit Organizations Act 2013 has replaced the old NGO Coordination Act, and legacy NGOs were transitioned into the PBO register.

What does PBO registration mean, and what does it not?

PBO registration means the authority has checked an organization's public-benefit objects, non-distribution rule and governance, and granted it corporate existence. It is more than bare incorporation, but it is still not an endorsement of effectiveness, impact or honesty.

Tax exemption is separate: PBO status does not by itself confer income-tax exemption. A charitable organisation must apply to the Kenya Revenue Authority under the charitable-exemption rules before qualifying gifts become deductible.

Are donations to Kenyan charities tax-deductible?

Donations are deductible against taxable business income when made to an organisation that holds a current Kenya Revenue Authority exemption certificate. The 2024 exemption rules add conditions, including limits on gifts to unrelated entities and record-keeping requirements.

There is no equivalent deduction against a salaried individual's PAYE-only income, and registration alone does not make a gift deductible. Confirm the recipient's exemption certificate before assuming relief applies.

How do you check a Kenyan NGO or charity before you donate?

Check a Kenyan organization in the public register before giving, using its exact name or reference number. A familiar name or a professional website is not a substitute for confirming registration and, for tax relief, exemption status.

  • Search the PBO Regulatory Authority list to confirm the organization is registered.
  • For tax-deductible giving, confirm its exemption certificate with the Kenya Revenue Authority.
  • Remember the public list shows only a name and number, not financial health or impact.
  • Read the organization's own reports and donation terms. See GiveRadar's integrity score methodology for what each data point proves.

How can you donate to charities and causes in Kenya?

Kenya offers direct giving to registered organizations working in community development, health, education, the environment and social services. Choose a cause deliberately, verify the recipient and use only payment details the organization itself publishes.

  • Explore Kenyan organizations by cause, such as the health charities directory, and compare organizations serving the outcome you value.
  • Confirm the recipient's registration and, where relevant, its KRA exemption certificate.
  • Give through the organization's confirmed bank details, M-Pesa paybill or a secure, published payment channel.
  • Keep the receipt. See GiveRadar's guidance for donors for more checks.
FAQ

Common questions

What is a PBO in Kenya?

A public benefit organisation (PBO) is Kenya's registered nonprofit form under the Public Benefit Organizations Act 2013, which in 2024 replaced the NGO Coordination Act. The PBO Regulatory Authority checks public-benefit objects and governance and keeps the register. Older NGOs were transitioned into it.

Are the organizations on GiveRadar's Kenya page vetted charities?

No, GiveRadar's Kenyan data is compiled from a registration directory whose public listing shows only a name and a reference number. Registration records that an organization exists and pursues public-benefit objects; it is not an endorsement of impact, honesty or financial health, so treat it as a directory, not a recommendation.

Are donations to Kenyan charities tax-deductible?

Donations are deductible against taxable business income when made to an organisation holding a current Kenya Revenue Authority exemption certificate, subject to conditions in the 2024 exemption rules. There is no equivalent deduction against a salaried individual's PAYE, and registration alone does not make a gift deductible.

How do I check a Kenyan NGO before donating?

Search the PBO Regulatory Authority's public list by name or reference number to confirm the organization is registered. For tax-deductible giving, confirm its exemption certificate with the Kenya Revenue Authority. The public list confirms registration only, not financial health or impact, so read the organization's own reports.

What does GiveRadar hold for Kenyan organizations, and what is missing?

GiveRadar holds a name, sector and, for 67.1%, a registration number for Kenyan organizations. It holds a website for only 3.5% and an email for 1.8%, because Kenya's public listings carry little more than a name and number, and GiveRadar holds no financial statements or tax-exemption status for Kenya.

Who registers NGOs in Kenya?

NGOs in Kenya are registered by the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority, which since 2024 has replaced the NGO Coordination Board under the Public Benefit Organizations Act 2013. Other forms register elsewhere: societies with the Registrar of Societies, and companies limited by guarantee with the companies registrar.

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