The Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority (PBO-RA), formerly the NGO Coordination Board, has called on stakeholders and all sector players to work together to unlock the deadlock over implementation of the Public Benefit Organizations Act (PBO) Act 2013.
The operationalization of the PBO Act 2013 on May 14 last year marked a historic milestone, replacing the defunct NGOs Coordination Act of 1990.
The new Act ushers in a new regulatory framework that supports a dynamic civil society ecosystem while reinforcing mechanisms for accountability, sustainability, and transparency in Kenya’s nonprofit and development landscape.
PBO-RA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Laxmana Kiptoo, while speaking during a media engagement meeting co-hosted by the Health NGOs Network (HENNET) in Nairobi, said the success of the PBO Act does not lie with the Authority alone, adding that it depends on all sector players, including the government, civil society, development partners, and the media, working together in harmony.
“This engagement is a strategic forum where the Authority and the media meet at the intersection of governance, public interest, and civic engagement,” he said, adding that the spirit of collaboration is both encouraging and essential as we move forward.
Dr. Kiptoo said the Authority is in a crucial phase in the implementation of the PBO Act and urged sector players to seize the opportunity to build clarity and strengthen partnerships to enable a more robust, responsive environment for PBOs in Kenya.
“Our current focus is the finalization of the draft regulations that will bring the PBO Act to life. And we are not doing this in isolation; the process is wide-ranging and inclusive,” he said.
He emphasized the role of the media in promoting transparency, clarity, and civic engagement as more vital than ever as the Authority operationalizes the PBO Act.
“Your ability to communicate these developments clearly and accurately will be crucial in building awareness around the registration processes, compliance timelines, and the overall benefits of the new legal framework,” he said.
“We encourage you to seek clarity where needed and help us explain the reforms in a way that is accessible and easy for the public to understand,” he added.
The Director divulged that the Authority will be holding county-level public participation forums across all 47 counties between June and July to seek direct input from stakeholders.
“The forums will ensure stakeholders’ voices shape the regulations, because the civic space belongs to all of us,” he said adding that this will ensure the final regulations truly reflect the voices of those they are meant to serve.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s unwavering commitment to collaboration and urgently called for unity of purpose across the membership of the civil society sector in Kenya to drive the full implementation of the PBO Act.
HENNET Executive Director Margaret Lubaale expressed support for the commitment demonstrated by the office of the Director-General of the PBORA in the implementation strategy during the twelve-month implementation window period.
She said that as part of civil society, they are ready and willing to partner with the Authority to advance a transparent and inclusive implementation process, underscoring the need for consistent and meaningful involvement of civil society in all phases of the process.
“I appeal to the members of the civil society sector in Kenya to actively and publicly participate in the review of the harmonized regulations,” said Lubaale, calling for unity across the membership of the civil society sector in Kenya to drive the full implementation of the PBO Act.
The engagement brought together journalists, editors, and sector stakeholders to foster informed dialogue, promote public awareness, and strengthen collaboration for meaningful implementation of the PBO Act.
The Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority is a state corporation established under Section 34 of the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act, 2013, and is broadly responsible for the registration and regulation of all charitable organizations in Kenya.
By Anita Omwenga