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A company or business name registered in Kenya has to be created properly and kept in good standing afterwards. CS Advocates LLP advises founders, foreign investors and established companies on incorporation through the Business Registration Service on eCitizen, on the steps that follow registration, and on the filings that keep the registry record accurate.
Led by Charles Muriu Mathenge, Managing Partner. An advocate handles your matter and fees are agreed in writing before chargeable work begins.
Incorporation is governed by the Companies Act 2015 and the work is handled by the Registrar of Companies within the Business Registration Service. Company records contain personal data about directors, shareholders and beneficial owners, and the Data Protection Act 2019 applies to how that information is handled. The firm acts for clients registering a new company, formalising an existing business, registering a foreign company in Kenya, and repairing a compliance position that has fallen behind.
What we advise on
- Name reservation and incorporation of private limited companies through the Business Registration Service on eCitizen, including the CR1 particulars, the memorandum and supporting forms
- Registration of business names and of foreign companies that establish a place of business in Kenya
- Registered office, directors, shareholding and share transfers, with the statutory registers kept current
- Annual returns filed in relation to the incorporation anniversary, and change notifications for directors, shares and registered office
- Beneficial ownership information and the company’s statutory records
- Post-incorporation registrations that banks, tenders and regulators ask for, including the company KRA PIN, NSSF, SHIF and county business permits
How a matter starts
- Send a short outline of the business, the proposed owners and shareholding, the registered office and whether any owner is a foreign national. Identification documents and proposed names are useful at this stage.
- The firm confirms that it can act, identifies the route that fits (company, business name or foreign company registration) and lists the registry documents and decisions needed.
- The firm issues a written engagement letter setting out scope and fees. Chargeable work starts only after the engagement letter is signed.
Questions clients ask
Should I register a business name or a limited company?
They are different vehicles. A business name is registered by its owner and does not create a separate legal person, while a limited company is a separate legal entity whose shareholders’ liability is limited. A company is subject to annual returns and the other continuing obligations under the Companies Act 2015. The right choice depends on how the business will be funded, whether it will borrow or take investment, and how it should pass to others.
How long does company registration take?
Where the proposed name is available and the particulars are consistent across the forms, incorporation through the Business Registration Service is commonly completed within a few working days. Delays usually come from name conflicts, identification details that do not match registry records, or particulars that differ between forms. Registry fees are published by the Business Registration Service and should be confirmed before filing.
What filings continue after incorporation?
A company files an annual return in relation to the anniversary of its incorporation, whether or not it traded during the year. Changes to directors, shareholding and the registered office require their own notifications, and beneficial ownership information must be kept current. Statutory registers of members, directors and charges belong at the registered office and should match the public record. Company tax returns with the Kenya Revenue Authority run on a separate track.
Can a foreign company register in Kenya?
A foreign company that establishes a place of business in Kenya registers as an external company through the Business Registration Service, with a local representative and a registered office. Registration does not replace the immigration and tax steps that apply to the people who will run it, and those should be planned alongside the company filings.
Related legal insights
More detail is in our business registration guides, including these articles:
- Registering a limited company in Kenya through eCitizen
- Annual returns and compliance under the Companies Act 2015
- Beneficial ownership filing for Kenyan companies
To discuss a registration or a compliance position, read our fees and engagement terms and contact the firm to arrange a confidential consultation at our Westlands, Nairobi office.