Membership
WHO IS A CERTIFIED SECRETARY?
A Certified Secretary (CS) is trained, examined, certified and deemed competent in a number of key roles & responsibilities, namely board services, governance, compliance, administration, public policy, ethics, integrity, communication & records management.
All members of the Institute, currently standing at about four thousand (4,000), are trained and competent on matters of governance, corporate secretarial practice, compliance, management, administration, advisory, consultancy, corporate recovery, and insolvency.
QUALIFYING AS A CS
The membership qualifications are prescribed under Section 20 of the Certified Public Secretaries Act, Cap 534 of the Laws of Kenya that a person is qualified to be registered as a Certified Public Secretary if he/she:
a) Has been awarded by the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) a certificate designated the final certificate of Certified Public Secretaries Examinations;
b) Holds a qualification approved by the Registration of Certified Public Secretaries Board (RCPSB);
c) Was on June 30, 2002 both a citizen of Kenya and a member of the professional body known as The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators;
d) Was on June 30, 2002 both ordinarily resident in Kenya and a member of the professional body known as The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators;
e) Was on 1 November 1989 registered as an Accountant under section 24(1) of the Accountant Act; or
f) Was on 30 June 2002 an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Membership benefits and opportunities include:
- Use of the internationally recognized Certified Secretary “CS” designation.
- Company Secretaries in line with the requirements of the Companies Act No 17 of 2015
- Secretaries to the County Public Service Board in line with the provision of the County Governments Act, 2012.
- Secretaries to the Boards of the Cities and Urban areas in line with the provision of the County Governments Act, 2012.
- Corporation Secretaries in line with provisions of the Code of Governance for State Corporations (Mwongozo).
- Corporate Secretaries to Saccos, Trusts, Universities, NGOs, Societies, etc.
- Governance Auditors for State Corporations in line with provisions of Mwongozo.
- Governance Auditors of Issuers of Securities to the Public in line with provisions of the Code of Governance for issuers of Securities to the Public.
- Governance Auditors for Pensions Schemes, Sacco Societies and other entities.
- Governance Advisors and Trainers.
- Board Evaluators.
a) Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination with an aggregate of at least C Plus (C+) provided the applicant has obtained a minimum grade of C Plus (C+) in both English and Mathematics.
b) KASNEB technical or professional examination certificates.
c) A degree from recognized Institutions. (Exemptions may be granted to holders of degrees, diplomas and certificates from recognised universities, polytechnics, other institutions of higher learning and other examination bodies in East Africa).
d) Such other certificates or diplomas as may be approved by KASNEB and other examination bodies in East Africa.
Hospital Road, Upper Hill
P. O. Box 58218-00200 Nairobi. Kenya
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone:0706 376 624
About Us
4000
MEMBERS
11
COUNCIL MEMBERS
4
INSTITUTE ESTABLISHMENTS
VISION
Leaders in good governance for a sustainable society
MISSION
To develop and guide on sustainability and governance standards in organizations
VALUES
- Boldness
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Agility
The Institute is governed by a Council comprising of eleven (11) members, out of whom ten (10) are elected by members and one (1) appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance pursuant to the CPS Act. The Council is led by the Chairman who is also elected by members. The Council operates through Committees established to handle various activities touching on the CPS profession.
Globally, Certified Public Secretaries (CPS) have varying titles depending with the type of organization they are working for and the position they occupy in such organizations. Some of the titles applicable include Certified Secretary (CS), Company Secretary, Corporate Secretary, Corporation Secretary, Board Secretary and Chartered Secretary.
In Kenya, members of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) are generally referred to as Certified Secretaries and the designatory letters “CS.” are used before their names. The designation “CS” has already been protected at the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).
As a public institution with a statutory mandate of promoting good governance, ICS has over the years partnered with other institutions to undertake various governance initiatives including:
- Code of Governance for State Corporations “Mwongozo” (on behalf of State Corporations Advisory Committee and Public Service Commission)
- Champions of Governance (COG) Award
- Code of Corporate Governance for Issuers of Security to the Public issued by the Capital Markets Authority.
- The Code of Governance for Private Organizations in Kenya
- CSIA Corporate Secretaries Tool Kit
- The Governance Framework for Certified Public Secretaries working at the County Governments
- Governance Standards and Guidelines
- Governance Training Manuals
- Governance Research, Trainings and Consultancies
- Governance Journal
- The Weekly Governance Voice (WGV) YouTube Channel.
History & Background
1891-ORIGIN
The Certified Public Secretaries Profession has its origin in the United Kingdom, when, in 1891, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries was formed. The profession is now represented in many Countries in the world. The global umbrella body for the corporate secretaries and governance professionals is Corporate Secretaries International Associations (CSIA), whose membership comprises of 14 professional associations from different countries including Kenya1969-EVOLUTION
The evolution of the Certified Public Secretaries profession in Kenya is traced to the establishment of the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) in 1969. The Board came into being through an Administrative Order under the auspices of the Directorate of Personnel Management, Office of the President.
1977-MANDATE
The mandate of KASNEB was to examine both Certified Public Accountants and Certified Public Secretaries. KASNEB was included as an institutional structure in the Accountants Act, Cap 531 Laws of Kenya, in July 1977. A provision was made under the Accountants Act to appoint two members to the Board of KASNEB “from the Governing body of such a profession for Certified Public Secretaries and Administrators as may be established with the consent of the Attorney-General”.
1977 TO PRESENT- WORKING PARTY
The Kenya Government appointed a working party on the certified public secretaries profession in 1978, which made its report to the Attorney General in June 1981, where the enactment of the legal framework on the certified public secretaries profession was recommended. In November 1988, the Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya Act, Cap 534 was enacted by Parliament and became operational on November 1, 1989.
Council Members
The overall leadership of the Institute is bestowed on the Council which is the policy making body. The Council is appointed pursuant to Section 8 of the CPS of Kenya Act and operates through Committees and a Secretariat. The Council is comprised of eleven (11) members, out of whom ten (10) are elected by members and one (1) appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance pursuant to the CPS Act. The Council is led by the Chairman who is also elected by members. The Council operates through Committees established to handle various activities touching on the CS profession. The current Council members are:
|
FCS Joshua W. Wambua, MBS |
Chairman |
|
FCS Dr. Nicholas K. Letting |
Council Member |
|
FCS Jacqueline Waihenya |
Council Member |
|
FCS George O. Athiambo |
Council Member |
|
CS Kathryne Maundu |
Council Member |
|
FCS Dr. kenneth Wyne Mutuma |
Council Member |
|
CS Joyce Koech |
Council Member |
|
CS Joyce Njeri Mukururi |
Council Member |
|
CS Simon Peter Mwangi Kariuki |
Council Member |
|
CS Judy Olive Warui |
Council Member |
|
CS William Kiema Sammy |
Council Member |
Secretariat
For the day to day running of the Institute’s operations, the Council has put in place a Secretariat headed by the Chief Executive Officer. The current members of the Secretariat are:
| FCS Jeremiah N. Karanja | Chief Executive Officer |
| CPA Pius Kamau | Head of Finance & Support Services |
| CS Gloria Kitete | Corporate Secretary |
| CS Humphry Ijakaa | Manager, Professional Services |
| FCS Emily Mugonyi | Manager, Membership Services |
| Mr. Gilbert Kiprono | Manager, Research |
| Mr. Julius Kyulu | Manager, ICT |
| Mrs. Lydia Sandimu | Executive Assistant |
| Mrs. Maureen Nyakwaka | Accounts Officer |
| CS John Gwada | Learning and Development Officer |
| Mrs. Marion Koki | Marketing and Communications Officer |
| Mr. Festus Kimeli | Capacity Development Officer |
| Mr. Hosea Mutwiri | Research Officer |
| Mr. James Karonjo | ICT Officer |
| Mr. Daniel Mutai | Office Driver |
Quick Links
Contant Us
The Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS)
CPS Governance Centre | Kilimanjaro Road | Upper Hill
P. O. Box 46935-00100 | Nairobi | Kenya
Tel: +254 734 603 173, +254 792 167 185, +254 92164772
E-mail: info@ics.ke; Website: www.ics.ke
