Company Registration in Kenya: Private Limited Company Guide

Start with the official registration channel

Company registration in Kenya is handled by the Business Registration Service (BRS) through its online services on eCitizen. Lex is not the government registry and cannot approve a company name or issue a certificate of incorporation. Always confirm the current process, forms, charges, and turnaround time directly with [BRS](https://brs.go.ke/companies-registry/) before you apply.

This guide focuses on a private limited company, a common option for founders who want a company that is separate from its owners. The right structure depends on the venture, its owners, funding plans, liability, and regulatory position.

What to prepare before applying

Having the essentials ready makes the official application easier to complete and helps founders resolve important decisions before they become disputes:

Proposed company names. BRS asks applicants to provide preferred names for review. A private company's name must meet the current BRS naming rules and normally ends in “Limited” or “Ltd”.
Founder, director, and shareholder details. Confirm the people involved, their roles, and the information the official application currently requests.
Shareholding and control. Agree on who owns what, who makes decisions, and what happens if a founder leaves or cannot continue.
Registered office and business details. Prepare the company’s address and a clear description of the intended activities.
The current official fee. BRS publishes a current [Companies Registry fee schedule](https://brs.go.ke/fee-schedule-companies-registry/). Charges and service details can change, so check them immediately before payment.

The registration process in brief

The exact eCitizen screens and requirements can change, but a private limited company application generally involves selecting the relevant BRS service, entering the company and participant details, reviewing the generated application documents, and submitting the application with the official payment. BRS’s published materials list company-registration forms and services, including forms for an application to register a company and for director details.

Do not assume that a name is available merely because it appears unused online. BRS reviews the proposed name against its current rules and existing registrations. If the application is approved, BRS issues the relevant incorporation record through the official process.

Questions founders should settle early

The filing is only one part of setting up a company. Before or soon after registration, founders should consider:

Ownership and decision-making. How will votes work, and which decisions require more than one founder’s approval?
Contributions and roles. Record who is contributing cash, work, intellectual property, equipment, or contacts, and what happens if the contribution is not made.
Transfers and exits. Agree how a departing founder’s shares may be sold or transferred.
Records and compliance. Companies have continuing record-keeping, filing, tax, and governance responsibilities. The obligations that apply depend on the company and its activities.
Regulated activities. Some businesses need licences or sector-specific approvals in addition to company registration.

When to involve a company lawyer

An advocate is especially useful where there are multiple founders, unequal contributions, investor plans, a foreign participant, valuable intellectual property, regulated work, or a proposed shareholder agreement. The advocate can help the founders make deliberate arrangements and prepare documents that reflect what they have agreed.

For a first consultation, bring the proposed names, an outline of the business, the proposed ownership split, the intended directors, and any founder discussions already recorded. You can also [speak with a company-registration advocate on Lex](/lawyers/company-registration) for legal guidance separate from the official BRS filing process.

This is general information, not a substitute for current official BRS instructions or legal advice on a particular company, tax position, or transaction.