Business Registration Certificate (Partnership) — Fees and Charges in Kenya

A partnership in Kenya is a business arrangement in which two or more persons carry on a business together with a view to profit. Partnerships are not separate legal entities from their owners, meaning partners bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of the business. All partnerships must be registered with the Business Registration Service (BRS), a government agency under the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice.

Fees and Charges

Item	Fee (KES)
Business name search and registration (combined)	950
Certificate of registration issued	Included
Change of business name (subsequent)	800
Official search / certified copy	Varies

Registration is conducted entirely online through the eCitizen platform (brsv2.ecitizen.go.ke). Payment is accepted via M-Pesa, debit card, or credit card. Prior to 2026, name search and registration were billed separately; these have since been merged into a single KES 950 payment, reducing both cost and processing time.

Processing Time

Application Type	Processing Time
Business name registration	1 working day

Key Requirements

To register a partnership, applicants must provide national identification cards or passports for all partners, a proposed business name (up to three options in order of preference), and details of the business address and nature of activity. All partners must hold a KRA PIN. Unlike a limited company, a partnership requires no minimum capital contribution at the registration stage. However, partners should have a written partnership deed — not a statutory requirement but strongly recommended — that sets out profit-sharing ratios, decision-making powers, and dispute resolution procedures. A registered partnership is subject to annual returns filed with the BRS to maintain good standing. Regulated by the Business Registration Service (BRS) under the Business Names Act and the Partnership Act, Laws of Kenya.

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