In a decisive move aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has appointed Teresia Wanjiku Gathagu as Kenya’s new Registrar of Societies.
The appointment, which took effect on April 4, 2025, was formally published in the Kenya Gazette on April 17 under Gazette Notice No. 4847, in line with Section 8 of the Societies Act.
Gathagu now assumes a pivotal role at the heart of Kenya’s civil society landscape. She is tasked with overseeing the registration, regulation, and monitoring of societies nationwide — including religious, charitable, welfare, and political organizations.
Her docket covers everything from greenlighting new societies to enforcing compliance, investigating irregularities, and processing name changes or deregistrations.
The appointment comes amid rising calls for tighter scrutiny of non-state actors and greater accountability in civic and political spaces.
Gathagu’s entry signals a renewed push by the Office of the Attorney General to restore order and legal compliance in a sector often marred by administrative loopholes and politicized registrations.
Observers see the move as part of a broader institutional reset under Oduor’s leadership, as the government seeks to reinforce rule-of-law mechanisms and transparency in governance.
With societies playing an increasingly influential role in Kenya’s socio-political landscape, all eyes will be on Gathagu as she steers the critical office into a new era.
