Kenya Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Kenyan Business

TL;DR. Kenya’s Business Registration Service (BRS), accessed via the eCitizen portal at ecitizen.go.ke, is the official registry for Kenyan companies. Basic company searches are free; certified extracts cost KES 100 to KES 1,500 (approximately USD 0.75 to USD 11.50). The interface is in English. As of May 2026, Kenya remains on the FATF Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring (grey) list, having been added in February 2024. Foreign buyers can register an eCitizen account with a passport and order documents online.

What is the official Kenya business registry?

The Business Registration Service (BRS) is Kenya’s statutory company registry, established under the Business Registration Service Act, Cap. 14H of the Laws of Kenya. It operates under the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice and administers the Companies Act No. 17 of 2015, which is the primary legislation governing company incorporation and governance in Kenya.

The BRS provides online services through two portals: its dedicated registry site at businessregistration.go.ke and the national eCitizen platform at ecitizen.go.ke. The eCitizen portal is the primary access point for most company services including searches, registration, and document orders. Kenya launched eCitizen as part of a broader digitization of government services, and company registration has been fully online since 2015.

The BRS registers private companies limited by shares, public limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, unlimited companies, foreign companies (branches), limited liability partnerships (LLPs), limited partnerships (LPs), and business names (sole proprietors and partnerships). The registry covers entities incorporated under the Companies Act 2015 as well as entities carried over from the Companies Act (Cap. 486), which was the predecessor legislation.

Kenya is a member of the East African Community (EAC), and its company registry is a frequent starting point for due diligence on businesses operating across the EAC region, which includes Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya is also a founding member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

What can you search?

The BRS online portal supports searches on:

• Company name (partial or exact)
• Company registration number (the primary identifier)
• Business name
• Director name

Search results return the company’s registration number, incorporation date, company type, registered address, and current status (active, dormant, dissolved, struck off, under receivership, etc.).

Authenticated eCitizen users can access enhanced search results including director and shareholder listings and filing history. Document orders require an eCitizen account with payment via M-Pesa, credit card, or other supported methods.

Data freshness at the BRS is filing-event driven. Annual returns are required from all Kenyan companies within one month of the annual general meeting or, for small companies, within 42 days of the anniversary of incorporation. Status changes and director appointments are reflected upon filing. In practice, smaller companies may have filing delays, so the BRS record should be supplemented with direct inquiry for time-critical compliance decisions.

How much does it cost?

Prices are based on BRS/eCitizen published fee schedules as of May 2026. The KES/USD conversion used is approximately 0.0077 (based on prevailing exchange rates in May 2026). Fees are payable in KES via the eCitizen payment gateway.

Do you need a local account or ID?

An eCitizen account is required to order certified documents. Kenyan citizens register with a national ID number; foreign nationals register with a passport number. The eCitizen system accepts international passport registration, which means foreign compliance buyers can create an account without a Kenyan identity document.

Once registered, users can order documents and pay via M-Pesa (Kenya’s mobile money platform, usable with a Safaricom number), international credit or debit card, or Airtel Money. For international buyers without a Kenyan mobile number, payment by international card is the practical option.

Is the website in English?

Yes. Kenya’s official language of business and government administration is English (alongside Swahili). The eCitizen portal and BRS registry are fully in English. All company documents filed with the BRS and all document outputs are in English.

What’s the turnaround time?

Basic company searches are instant once logged into eCitizen.

Certified document orders are typically processed within 1 to 5 business days. Simpler extracts (status reports, director listings) are often ready within 1 to 2 business days. Complex historical file requests may take longer depending on the BRS processing queue and whether documents are held in digitized or physical archives.

Documents are issued as digitally-signed PDFs accessible for download from the eCitizen account. Physical certified documents with a BRS stamp and signature can be requested for additional fee and require collection at BRS offices in Nairobi or county registration offices, which is impractical for most foreign buyers.

Is there an API?

No public API is available from the BRS for company data queries. The eCitizen platform does not expose an open data interface for company records. Automated bulk access to registry data is not permitted.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) at kra.go.ke offers a PIN (Personal Identification Number) verification service for tax compliance, but this is a separate system from the BRS company registry.

Commercial data suppliers (see the Local data suppliers section) aggregate BRS data and provide API access for platform integration.

What you legally cannot do

Kenya’s Data Protection Act 2019 governs the processing of personal data. Director names, shareholder details, and addresses extracted from BRS records constitute personal data under the Act when processed by a private entity. KYC and AML compliance constitute legitimate processing purposes, but redistribution of personal data from BRS records for commercial resale requires appropriate legal basis under the Act and registration with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) at odpc.go.ke.

Automated scraping of the eCitizen portal and BRS registry is prohibited under the system’s terms of use.

Kenya’s AML/CFT framework is administered by the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) at frc.go.ke, established under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA) 2009. Reporting institutions must conduct customer due diligence and verify beneficial ownership consistent with POCAMLA requirements.

For broader due diligence on Kenyan counterparties, the Global Business Due Diligence Guide covers Kenya’s risk positioning in the Africa compliance tier.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Use the company registration number as the primary search key. Kenyan company names can be similar across many entities. The company registration number, issued by BRS upon incorporation, is the stable unique identifier. Format varies by entity type and registration year (e.g., CPR/2019/123456 for companies, BN/2019/123456 for business names).
• Distinguish companies from business names. A business name (BN) registration in Kenya is not a separate legal entity; it is a trading name registered by an individual or partnership. For compliance purposes, always verify whether the counterparty is a registered company (with its own legal personality) or merely a business name (where the individual behind it is the legal counterparty).
• Annual return compliance indicates governance quality. Kenyan companies must file annual returns. A company with multiple years of outstanding annual returns may indicate weak governance or an inactive entity. Check the filing history available on the BRS portal.
• EAC cross-border context. Kenya is the primary commercial hub of the East African Community. Entities operating across the EAC often use Kenya as their incorporation jurisdiction. Cross-border due diligence from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, or Burundi frequently traces back to a Kenyan holding company or operating entity.
• FATF enhanced due diligence. Kenya has been on the FATF grey list since February 2024. Correspondent banks and financial institutions may apply enhanced due diligence to Kenya-related transactions. Verify whether your institution’s EDD policy covers Kenyan counterparties at the appropriate risk tier.
• AfCFTA implications. Kenya was among the early ratifiers of the AfCFTA agreement. Cross-border transactions under AfCFTA frameworks with Kenyan entities require standard KYC verification anchored on the BRS registration record.

Alternatives if you cannot access BRS directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates indexes BRS filings but may lag official data. Useful for quick name-check; not for compliance-grade verification.
• eCitizen help desk: The eCitizen platform provides support at support.ecitizen.go.ke for account and payment issues. For document retrieval assistance, the BRS office in Nairobi (Sheria House) handles in-person queries.
• Commercial data suppliers (see section below): provide packaged company intelligence combining BRS data with credit and risk scoring.

Local data suppliers

• Dun & Bradstreet East Africa (dnb.com). Global data provider with East Africa coverage. Offers company reports and credit risk scoring for Kenyan entities.
• Creditinfo Kenya (creditinfo.co.ke). Kenya-licensed credit bureau operating under the Central Bank of Kenya’s bureau framework. Provides commercial credit reports, business verification, and risk scoring for Kenyan companies.
• Metropol Corporation (metropol.co.ke). Kenya-based credit reference bureau licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya. Provides commercial and consumer credit data with Kenya company coverage.

Use BRS for the authoritative company registration record. Use a credit bureau when you need payment behavior, financial health, or director-linked risk scoring on top of the registry extract.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Kenya BRS registry directly?

Yes. The eCitizen portal and BRS registry are accessible internationally. Foreign buyers register an eCitizen account using a passport number. No Kenyan national ID is required. International credit or debit card payment is available for document orders. The main practical constraint for foreign buyers is that M-Pesa payment requires a Safaricom number, which is a Kenyan mobile subscription.

What is the company registration number format in Kenya?

The primary company identifier in Kenya is the company registration number issued by BRS. For companies incorporated under the Companies Act 2015, the format is typically CPR/YYYY/NNNNNN (company, year, sequential number). For business names, the format is BN/YYYY/NNNNNN. For LLPs, the format is LLP/YYYY/NNNNNN. Foreign companies registering as branches use FC/YYYY/NNNNNN. Always use the full registration number for compliance verification.

What entity types are registered with BRS?

The BRS registers private companies limited by shares, public limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, unlimited companies, foreign companies (branches), limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and business names. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may have dual registration with BRS and the NGO Coordination Board. Co-operative societies are registered with the Commissioner for Co-operatives, not BRS.

Does Kenya have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Yes. The Companies Act 2015 (as amended) requires Kenyan companies to maintain a register of persons with significant control (PSC), defined as persons holding more than 10% of shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercising significant influence or control. The BRS has implemented electronic PSC filing as part of the annual return process. As of May 2026, the PSC register is not publicly searchable but is available to competent authorities and reporting institutions conducting AML due diligence. This aligns with FATF Recommendation 24.

How current is the data in the BRS registry?

BRS data reflects filings made by registered companies. Director changes, share transfers, and status updates require companies to file relevant forms. Annual returns are due within 42 days of the incorporation anniversary for small companies, or within one month of the AGM for larger companies. Companies with overdue annual returns may have records that do not reflect current ownership or directors. Cross-reference with commercial credit bureau data for time-sensitive decisions.

Is Kenya on the FATF grey list?

Yes. Kenya was added to the FATF Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring (grey) list in February 2024 following concerns about its AML/CFT framework. As of May 2026, Kenya remains on the grey list. Compliance teams should apply enhanced due diligence to Kenyan counterparties in line with their institution’s EDD policies. Current status can be verified at fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between BRS company registration and Kenya Revenue Authority tax registration?

BRS issues the company registration number upon incorporation. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) at kra.go.ke issues a separate Personal Identification Number (PIN) for tax purposes, which applies to both companies and individuals. The KRA PIN is required for all tax filings and many commercial transactions in Kenya. A company may have a valid BRS registration but be non-compliant with KRA filings. For complete due diligence, verify both BRS status and KRA compliance status via the iTax portal.

Last verified: May 2026. Source: Business Registration Service Kenya (businessregistration.go.ke), Financial Reporting Centre Kenya (frc.go.ke), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.