{"id":9587,"date":"2025-08-05T18:53:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T18:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/?p=9587"},"modified":"2026-07-03T07:15:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T07:15:55","slug":"procedure-for-registering-a-company-in-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/procedure-for-registering-a-company-in-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"Procedure for Registering a Company in Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Procedure for Registering a Company in Kenya: A Step-by-Step Guide<\/h2>

The procedure for registering a company in Kenya is a clear process and follows the Companies Act of 2015. Thanks to digital changes and the eCitizen portal, it’s now easier than ever. Entrepreneurs, whether local or foreign, can now register online. This means no more long paperwork or trips to government offices.<\/p>

If you want to start a business, knowing how to register a company in Kenya is vital. It helps you meet legal requirements and operate officially in the country. This article will guide you through the procedure of registering a company\u00a0 .<\/p>

1. Access the BRS website <\/b><\/p>

\u2022 Visit eCitizen, then log in or create an account if you don\u2019t have one yet.<\/p>

2. Select the Type of Company<\/b><\/p>

After logging in, you\u2019ll see a list of available services. Click on Business Registration Service<\/a> BRS (This section allows you to reserve your business name, complete registration forms, and track the status of your application.), and select the type of company to register in Kenya.<\/p>

A. Sole Proprietorship<\/strong> – Owned by one person. Easy to set up, but the owner is personally liable for all debts.
B. Private Limited Company (Ltd)<\/strong> – Owned by shareholders. Liability is limited to their investment. Most common for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises).
C. Public Limited Company (PLC)<\/strong> – Can sell shares to the public. Suitable for large businesses looking to raise capital.
D. Company Limited by Guarantee<\/strong> – Usually for non-profits; members guarantee a set amount if the company is wound up.
E. Branch of a Foreign Company<\/strong> – For companies outside Kenya wanting to operate locally.
F. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)<\/strong> \u2013 Partners share management duties, but personal liability is limited.<\/p>

Click “Apply Now” to start the process of company registration in Kenya<\/a> online<\/p>

3. Reserve a Company Name<\/b><\/p>

\u2022 Go to the \u201cMake Application\u201d<\/strong> section and submit 3 to 5 company names in your order of preference.<\/p>

Check Name Availability:<\/strong><\/p>

The system will instantly indicate whether your chosen name is available or already in use.
\u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 If available: Great news\u2014you\u2019re one step closer to registering a company in Kenya.
\u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 If unavailable: No worries; simply try another name from your list. For example:<\/p>

Instead of \u201cCityTech Solutions,\u201d consider \u201cCityTech Digital Solutions\u201d or \u201cCityTech Innovations.\u201d You can include a descriptive word such as \u201cServices,\u201d \u201cHub,\u201d \u201cEnterprises,\u201d or \u201cSolutions.\u201d<\/p>

N\/B-<\/strong> The goal is to pick a name that clearly represents what you do while still standing out from similar businesses.<\/p>

\u2022 The Registrar will assign the first available name to your business. This usually takes 1 to 2 business days.
\u2022 Once approved, the name is reserved for 30 days. You can extend it for another 30 days if needed.<\/p>

4. Provide Articles of Association Details<\/b><\/p>

Submit the Articles of Association, which outline the rules for running the company. Along with the memorandum of association, they form the company’s constitution. You can use standard Model Articles or create your own. Please note that the <\/span>Model Articles of Association are contained in the Companies Act.<\/p>

Also, state if your business operates in a regulated industry. Describe your company’s main activities, the start date of operations, and the expected annual turnover. This helps authorities check compliance.<\/p>

5. Add the Registered Office Address<\/b><\/p>

Provide the following:<\/p>

\u2022 County, locality, building, road name<\/p>

\u2022 Postal address and code<\/p>

\u2022 Company email and phone number<\/p>

6. Provide a Defined Shareholding Structure<\/b><\/p>

Determine how ownership is divided among shareholders.<\/p>

Minimum Requirements<\/strong>
To register a private limited company in Kenya, you need at least one shareholder and one director, who can be the same person. The minimum share capital is Ksh 100,000. However, many companies declare Ksh 1,000,000 or more to build trust.<\/p>

Key Shareholder Rights and Responsibilities<\/strong>
Under the Companies Act 2015, a director must be at least 18 years old. Shareholders have rights based on their shares, including:
\u2022 Voting Rights<\/strong> – Vote on major decisions like electing directors
\u2022 Dividends<\/strong> – Right to a share of profits when declared.
\u2022 Capital Returns<\/strong> – Shareholders may get a portion of assets if the company dissolves.
\u2022 Share Redemption Terms<\/strong> – Shareholders can request to redeem shares, based on the company’s terms.
When registering your company in Kenya, indicate whether shares can be redeemed and any conditions for redemption.<\/p>

7. Add Shareholders and Directors’ Details<\/b><\/p>

You must have at least one director and one shareholder, but you can add more. You will need to provide:<\/p>

Here you must enter the following:<\/p>

\u2022 Name, gender, DOB, nationality, ID\/passport<\/p>

\u2022 Contact info, occupation, shareholding details<\/p>

\u2022 Upload a passport-size photo and passport (for foreigners)<\/p>

\u2022 Declare beneficial ownership details (An individual with 10% or more ownership or control of the company)<\/p>

N\/B:<\/strong> Public companies and private companies with share capital over Ksh 5 million must appoint a Certified Public Secretary (CPS) to ensure compliance with<\/span>\u00a0statutory and governance requirements.<\/p>

8. Download the Application Documents<\/b><\/p>

Download, sign, and upload these signed documents to the BRS website:<\/p>

\u2022 CR1 \u2013 Shows the list of Directors in the company<\/p>

\u2022 CR2 \u2013 Shows the list of shareholders in a company<\/p>

\u2022 CR8 \u2013 Shows the addresses of the directors<\/p>

\u2022 BOF 1 \u2013 Used to declare the beneficial owners of a company<\/p>

\u2022 Statement of Nominal Capital \u2013 Captures the share capital of the company.<\/p>

Prepare incorporation documents in advance to make the process of company registration in Kenya fast and smooth.<\/span><\/p>

9. Pay the Government Registration Fee<\/b><\/p>

\u2022 Once your application is submitted, you will be asked to pay the official registration fee through the BRS on the eCitizen portal<\/span>.<\/p>

\u2022 The government fees for registration of a company in Kenya range between KES 10,750 (Approximately USD 100) and 25,000 (Approximately USD 195), depending on the type of company and share capital.<\/p>

\u2022 Pay via M-Pesa, debit\/credit card, or bank transfer<\/p>

10. Download Registration Certificates<\/b><\/p>

Once approved (in 5 to 7 business days), download:
\u2022 Certificate of Incorporation- which shows the company name, registration number, and date of incorporation.
\u2022 CR12<\/a> (Company ownership extract)<\/p>

Feel free to contact us today<\/a> for guidance on the whole process of online company registration in Kenya.<\/p>

Post Registration Requirements<\/b><\/h3>

a. Obtain a KRA PIN<\/strong>
Register for a Kenya Revenue Authority<\/a> (KRA) PIN to fulfill your tax obligations.<\/p>

b. Open a Corporate Bank Account<\/strong><\/p>

To open a company bank account, you will need:
\u2013 A valid Certificate of Incorporation
\u2013 The company’s KRA PIN certificate
\u2013 Memorandum and Articles of Association (MAA)
\u2013 A board resolution authorizing the account opening, signed by the directors<\/p>

c. Get a business permit or License<\/strong>
To run a business legally in Kenya, you must obtain the right permits and licenses from the relevant authorities. The main requirement is the Single Business Permit, issued by the county government. This permit covers several compliance areas, such as:
\u2022 Trading license
\u2022 Fire safety clearance
\u2022 Public health compliance
Depending on your type of business, you might also need extra permits:
\u2022 Fire Safety Certificate \u2013 Needed for businesses in commercial buildings or handling flammable materials.
\u2022 Health Permits \u2013 Required for businesses in food, hospitality, healthcare, and other sectors affecting public health.
Check with your County Government or relevant authority to obtain all necessary licenses.<\/p>

d. Legal Compliance and Ongoing Requirements<\/strong>
The procedure for registering a company in Kenya involves ongoing responsibilities:
\u2022 Pay taxes:<\/strong> This includes Corporation Tax (30%), VAT (16%) if your yearly turnover is over Ksh 5 million, PAYE for employees, and Withholding Tax when needed.
\u2022 File annual returns:<\/strong> Submit yearly reports to the Registrar of Companies.
\u2022 Maintain proper records:<\/strong> Keep accurate accounting books and, if required, have them audited.
\u2022 Register for social schemes:<\/strong> If you have employees, register them with NSSF (National Social Security Fund) and SHA (Social Health Authority).
Failing to follow these rules can result in fines or even the deregistration of your company.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Conclusion<\/b><\/h4>

The procedure for Company registration in Kenya is no longer complicated. With proper guidance, you can quickly and legally establish your business and capitalize on Kenya’s dynamic economy. Whether you’re a local entrepreneur or an international investor, this guide equips you with everything you need to make informed decisions.<\/p>

Let Afrisetup<\/a> handle your registration so that you can focus on your business.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Procedure for Registering a Company in Kenya: A Step-by-Step Guide The procedure for registering a company in Kenya is a clear process and follows the Companies Act of 2015. Thanks to digital changes and the eCitizen portal, it’s now easier than ever. Entrepreneurs, whether local or foreign, can now register online. This means no more…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[239],"tags":[402,401,405,398,327,399,397,395,328,332,403,329,334,330,404,406,337,338,400],"class_list":["post-9587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-company-registration","tag-company-registration-in-kenya-for-foreigners","tag-company-registration-in-kenya-requirements","tag-company-registration-procedure-in-kenya","tag-ecitizen-company-registration","tag-how-to-register-a-private-company-in-kenya","tag-name-search-for-company-registration-in-kenya","tag-online-company-registration-in-kenya","tag-private-limited-company-registration-in-kenya","tag-procedure-for-registering-a-company-in-kenya-pdf","tag-procedure-of-opening-a-company-in-kenya","tag-procedure-of-registering-a-limited-company-in-kenya","tag-process-of-company-registration-in-kenya","tag-process-of-incorporating-a-company-in-kenya","tag-process-of-registering-a-company-in-kenya","tag-process-of-registering-a-limited-company-in-kenya","tag-steps-in-registering-a-company-in-kenya","tag-steps-of-registering-a-company-in-kenya","tag-steps-to-register-a-company-in-kenya","tag-types-of-company-registration-in-kenya"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9587"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12355,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9587\/revisions\/12355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afrisetup.gorilladevops.com\/kenya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}