Certificate of Incorporation (Limited Company) — Fees and Charges in Kenya

A limited company is the most common business vehicle in Kenya, offering shareholders the protection of limited liability — meaning personal assets are generally insulated from business debts. Companies are registered and regulated by the Business Registration Service (BRS) under the Companies Act, 2015.

Fees and Charges

Company Type	Registration Fee (KES)	Processing Time
Private Limited Company	10,650	3–5 working days
Public Limited Company	10,650	3–5 working days
Company Limited by Guarantee	10,000	3 days (after NIS vetting)
Unlimited Company	20,050	3–5 working days
Foreign Company Registration	7,550	3–5 working days
Change of company name	4,000	1 working day
Name search (standalone, if required separately)	150	1–2 working days

The private limited company fee of KES 10,650 covers the incorporation filing, registrar review and processing, and issuance of the digital Certificate of Incorporation. The live eCitizen/BRS portal invoice should be treated as the final payable amount at the time of application, as minor variations can occur.

Key Requirements

Requirement	Details
CR1 form	Application for registration
CR2 form	Memorandum of Association
CR8 form	Directors' details
Statement of Nominal Capital	Share capital declaration
Directors and shareholders	Minimum 1 director; minimum 1 shareholder
KRA PIN	Mandatory for all directors and shareholders
Beneficial ownership details	Required under BRS regulations

There is no minimum paid-up share capital requirement for a private limited company for registration purposes, though certain regulated sectors (banking, insurance, etc.) impose their own sector-specific capital thresholds. Annual returns must be filed with the BRS. Regulated by the Business Registration Service (BRS) under the Companies Act, 2015, Laws of Kenya.

› More Directory