Quick answer

Summary: company registration requirements in Kenya

To register a private limited company in Kenya, prepare three proposed company names, a business activity, director and shareholder details, ID or passport information, KRA PIN details where applicable, registered office details, share capital, beneficial ownership information and signed BRS-generated documents such as CR1, CR2, CR8 and the statement of nominal capital.

  • Prepare three proposed company names in order of preference.
  • Confirm the directors, shareholders and ownership percentages.
  • Prepare ID or passport details and KRA PIN details where applicable.
  • Agree the share capital, number of shares and value per share.
  • Trace beneficial ownership to the natural persons who ultimately own or control the company.
  • Sign and upload BRS-generated forms where the portal requires them.
Requirement What to prepare Check before submission
Company names Three proposed names in order of priority. Names should be distinctive and not misleading, restricted or too close to existing names.
Directors Full names, ID/passport details, phone, email, address and KRA PIN where applicable. Names must match the ID, passport and KRA records used for the application.
Shareholders Individual or corporate shareholder details and ownership percentages. The shareholding split must match the share capital and beneficial ownership information.
Registered office Kenyan physical address, postal address and company contact details. Use an address that can support notices, bank KYC and tax onboarding.
Share capital Number of shares, value per share, nominal capital and share allotment. Total shares × value per share should equal the stated nominal capital.
Beneficial owners Natural persons who ultimately own or control the company. Trace corporate ownership through to the real individuals where required.
BRS forms Signed portal-generated forms, commonly CR1, CR2, CR8 and statement of nominal capital. Forms should be signed, clear and uploaded in the correct BRS fields.

This page is deliberately focused on requirements only. For filing steps, read how to register a company in Kenya. For pricing, read cost of company registration in Kenya.

On this page

Summary: requirements at a glance 1) Documents required to register a company in Kenya 2) Director, shareholder and KRA PIN requirements 3) BRS forms: CR1, CR2, CR8 and statement of nominal capital 4) Share capital and beneficial ownership requirements 5) What is not required before incorporation 6) FAQs Supporting: common mistakes Supporting: pre-filing checklist Supporting: official sources

1) Documents required to register a company in Kenya

The documents depend on whether the parties are Kenyan individuals, foreign individuals or corporate shareholders. The following checklist covers the practical information normally required before BRS filing.

Kenyan director or shareholder

  • National ID details or clear ID copy.
  • KRA PIN details where applicable.
  • Phone number and email address.
  • Residential, postal or contact address.
  • Passport-size photo where requested by the portal.

Foreign director or shareholder

  • Passport biodata page.
  • Full passport names and nationality.
  • Foreign or Kenyan address details.
  • Phone number and email address.
  • KRA PIN details where applicable or required later.

Corporate shareholder

  • Entity registration details.
  • Authorised representative details.
  • Board resolution or authority document where applicable.
  • Ownership chain to identify beneficial owners.
  • Contact and address details for registry records.

Proposed company

  • Three proposed names in order of preference.
  • Business activity description.
  • Registered office and postal address.
  • Company email and phone contact.
  • Share capital, share value and ownership split.

2) Director, shareholder and KRA PIN requirements

A private limited company should have clear director and shareholder records before filing. One person may act as both director and shareholder, but their details must still be entered consistently.

Party Requirement SEO/user-intent answer
Director Legal name, ID/passport, contact details, residential address and KRA PIN where applicable. Directors are the company officers recorded during incorporation.
Shareholder Legal name or entity name, ID/passport or entity details, shares held and percentage ownership. Shareholders own the company through allocated shares.
Company secretary Required where the company is public or where statutory thresholds make a company secretary necessary. For ordinary small private companies, secretary details are often not a core first filing requirement.
Foreigners: a foreigner can usually be a director or shareholder in a Kenyan company. Incorporation is separate from immigration status, investor permits, KRA onboarding, bank KYC and regulated-sector licensing.

3) BRS forms: CR1, CR2, CR8 and statement of nominal capital

BRS commonly generates or references incorporation forms during the online application. Download, sign and upload the documents exactly as the portal requires.

Form / document What it covers When it is used
CR1 Application to register a company. Incorporation filing.
CR2 Model memorandum for a company with share capital. Incorporation filing for companies with share capital.
CR8 Notice of residential address or change of address of a director. Director address information in the incorporation workflow.
Statement of nominal capital Share capital, number of shares and value per share. Required for a company limited by shares.
BOF1 / beneficial ownership information Register or particulars of the natural persons who ultimately own or control the company. Beneficial ownership compliance.
Certificate of Incorporation Proof that the company has been registered. Issued after approval, not prepared before filing.

4) Share capital and beneficial ownership requirements

Share capital and beneficial ownership should be settled before filing because they affect the statement of nominal capital, shareholder table and beneficial ownership information submitted through BRS. Keep the structure simple unless there is a clear legal, investment or licensing reason to use special share classes.

Simple example

A company may have 1,000 ordinary shares at KES 100 each. The nominal capital is therefore KES 100,000. If there are two equal shareholders, each receives 500 shares.

  • Confirm the number of shares.
  • Confirm the value per share.
  • Confirm each shareholder’s number of shares.
  • Confirm the ownership percentage for each shareholder.
  • Check that the shareholding table matches the beneficial ownership information.

Beneficial ownership details

Beneficial ownership information identifies the real natural persons who ultimately own or control the company. This is especially important where a shareholder is another company or where ownership is held through nominees, trusts or layered entities. For official registry guidance, review the BRS guides and handbooks.

Prepare

  • Full name of each beneficial owner.
  • Nationality and identification details.
  • Residential or contact address.
  • Nature of ownership or control.
  • Percentage or basis of control.

Check consistency

  • BO details must match the shareholder structure.
  • Corporate shareholders should be traced to natural persons.
  • Nominee or indirect control should be explained clearly.
  • Generated BO forms should be signed where required.
  • Keep BO records ready for future registry updates.

5) What is not required before company incorporation?

These items are often confused with company registration requirements, but they usually become relevant after incorporation or in separate compliance processes.

Item Required before incorporation? When it becomes relevant
CR12 / official search No After the company exists, for banks, tenders, investors and due diligence.
Company KRA PIN Usually after incorporation Tax registration and post-registration onboarding.
Corporate bank account No After incorporation using company documents and bank KYC.
County business permit No Before trading from premises or operating under county licensing rules.
Work permit or investor permit No For foreigners who will work, manage or reside in Kenya.
Trademark registration No Brand protection after the name and trading brand are settled.

Common mistakes that delay company registration

Frequent errors

  • Submitting only one weak company name.
  • Using names that do not match ID, passport or KRA records.
  • Uploading unclear, cropped or unsigned documents.
  • Incorrect share capital calculations.
  • Missing beneficial ownership information.
  • Confusing CR12 with pre-registration forms.

How to avoid them

  • Prepare one clean data sheet before filing.
  • Use exact legal names from source documents.
  • Check share math before submission.
  • Trace beneficial ownership before opening the portal.
  • Review every upload before final filing.
  • Keep cost and procedure questions on separate pages.

Pre-filing checklist

Use this checklist before submitting a private limited company registration file through BRS.

  • Three proposed company names prepared.
  • Business activity described clearly.
  • Director details confirmed.
  • Shareholder details confirmed.
  • ID or passport details prepared for every relevant party.
  • KRA PIN details prepared where applicable.
  • Registered office and company contact details prepared.
  • Share capital, number of shares and value per share agreed.
  • Ownership percentages checked.
  • Beneficial ownership information traced to natural persons.
  • Corporate shareholder authority documents prepared where applicable.
  • Signed BRS-generated forms ready for upload.
  • Clear scans prepared in the format required by the portal.

Official sources

Registry prompts can change. Always follow the live eCitizen/BRS application at the time of filing. Last checked: 13 June 2026.

6) FAQs on company registration requirements in Kenya

What are the requirements for company registration in Kenya?

You need three proposed company names, business activity, director and shareholder details, ID or passport details, KRA PIN details where applicable, registered office details, share capital details, beneficial ownership information and signed BRS-generated forms.

What documents are required to register a private limited company in Kenya?

Typical documents and details include ID or passport information, KRA PIN details where applicable, registered office details, shareholding structure, share capital details, beneficial ownership information and signed forms such as CR1, CR2, CR8 and the statement of nominal capital.

How many names are required for company registration in Kenya?

BRS guidance indicates that the name reservation and business registration process has been merged and that applicants submit three preferred names with the full application online.

Is CR12 required before company registration?

No. CR12 or official company search information is normally obtained after incorporation. It is used to confirm company particulars for banks, tenders, investors and counterparties.

Can a foreigner be a director or shareholder in a Kenyan company?

Yes. A foreigner may generally be a director or shareholder. Prepare passport details, address details, contact details and beneficial ownership information. Immigration and tax onboarding are separate from incorporation.

Does share capital have to be paid into a bank before registration?

For an ordinary private limited company, the key pre-filing requirement is to state the share capital, number of shares, value per share and shareholder allocation. Bank account opening normally comes after incorporation.

What usually causes BRS queries or delays?

Common causes include weak proposed names, inconsistent ID/passport/KRA details, unclear uploads, unsigned forms, incorrect share capital calculations and incomplete beneficial ownership information.

Need help preparing your BRS requirements file?

Biz Brokers Kenya helps founders, SMEs and foreign investors prepare a clean company registration file: proposed names, directors, shareholders, share capital, beneficial ownership details and BRS form readiness.

Call +254757884710 | Email info@bizbrokerskenya.com | Chat on WhatsApp
Kose Heights, Argwings Kodhek Road, Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya