How to Register a Business in Kenya

Kenya's Business Registration Service (BRS) manages all business registration through the eCitizen portal (ecitizen.go.ke). Kenya's registration environment is among the most digital in Africa, with most processes completable online without visiting a government office. Two primary structures for entrepreneurs: Sole Proprietorship/Partnership (registered as a Business Name — relatively simple, costs KES 950 online, but no liability protection and ineligible for most institutional funding); and Private Limited Company (Ltd — required for investor-grade funding, formal bank lending, government procurement above KES 1 million, and most grant programmes. Registration costs KES 10,650 for online processing). Required documents via eCitizen: directors' names, KRA PIN numbers, ID or passport numbers, and addresses; proposed company name (search available on eCitizen — names too similar to existing entities are rejected); Memorandum and Articles of Association (standard constitution templates available in eCitizen — customise only if needed); minimum two directors required; minimum share capital of KES 100,000 (commonly 1,000 shares at KES 100 each, though can be structured differently). Timeline: Name reservation approved within 24 hours on eCitizen. Full company incorporation typically completed in 3–7 working days assuming complete documentation. Post-registration steps: KRA PIN registration (done simultaneously through eCitizen — critical for all tax obligations and most grant applications); county government business permit (required for physical business operations — cost varies by county, location, and business type; Nairobi permits range from KES 5,000–KES 50,000+ per year); sector licences (Capital Markets Authority for investment businesses, Central Bank of Kenya for financial services, Pharmacy and Poisons Board for pharma, KEBS for regulated products). For businesses expecting international investors, note that most Kenyan companies ultimately establish a Cayman Islands or Delaware holding company with the Kenyan entity as a subsidiary — engage a lawyer familiar with this structure before incorporating if Series A+ funding is the goal. --- *Track 1 — I am just starting out · Registering and Setting Up Your Business · Article 15.* Browse related [funding opportunities](/opportunities) on MaxWith filtered to your country and sector.