This Is Disclosure
Country guide

Kenya.

Kenya's statute books place the word "Harambee" (Swahili, commonly rendered as pulling together) on the national coat of arms and list it among protected national words. A 2013 Act sets a registration and tax framework for public benefit organizations, and a 1965 Act incorporates the Kenya Red Cross Society, whose stated objects include volunteer aid and disaster relief. The Penal Code creates duties of care for people who have charge of others, not for strangers in general.

Is there a legal duty to help a stranger?

Limited

The Penal Code (Cap. 63) section 216 makes it the duty of a person having charge of another who cannot provide for himself to provide the necessaries of life, and section 239 makes failure to supply necessaries an offense when a person is charged with that duty. Sections 218 and 219 add duties of reasonable skill and care for those who undertake dangerous acts or control dangerous things. The text reviewed contains no provision requiring a bystander with no prior relationship to help a stranger in danger; the Traffic Act section 73 requires a driver involved in an accident to stop and report it, and does not mention giving aid.

Are people who help protected?

No general duty found

No Good Samaritan or immunity provision was found in the Traffic Act text reviewed (a search for "samaritan", "good faith", "render assistance" and "first aid" returned nothing). The Health Act 2017 text could not be fully loaded, so this guide cannot say whether a protection exists elsewhere in Kenyan law. Article 43(2) of the Constitution states that a person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment, which is a right and not a protection for helpers.

How the government promotes giving and service

One thing worth knowing

"Harambee" is written into the statute that describes the coat of arms (Second Schedule, Part II of the National Flag, Emblems and Names Act), so a self-help tradition is also a state symbol.

What this does not mean

This guide found no statute that regulates or promotes harambee fundraising events themselves, and it did not verify the current status of any fundraising bills. The Public Benefits Organizations Act benefits go to registered organizations, not directly to individual helpers. Texts are the English versions published by Kenya Law; they are not legal advice. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice, and it does not rank countries. No government named here has endorsed this site.