Need help registering a Public Limited Company in Kenya?
Biz Brokers Kenya assists promoters and founders with PLC structure review, BRS/eCitizen filing preparation, company secretary details, CR forms, share capital information and Registrar query handling.
Quick answer
Public Limited Company Registration in Kenya: Cost, Procedure and Duration
Public Limited Company registration in Kenya is the BRS/eCitizen process for incorporating a company as a Public Limited Company or PLC. This page is only for public company / PLC registration. For an ordinary private limited company, use the private limited company registration procedure in Kenya.
Cost and duration: the BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists KES 10,650 for Public Limited Company registration and a 3–5 day processing time for complete filings. Always confirm the final amount from the live eCitizen/BRS invoice before payment.
Official fee
KES 10,650 on the BRS Companies Registry fee schedule, subject to the live portal invoice.
Timeline
3–5 days for complete BRS filings; longer if forms, secretary details, share capital or uploads need correction.
Key documents
CR1, CR2, CR8, CR10, CR12 and Statement of Nominal Capital as listed by BRS.
Best fit
Promoters planning a public-company structure, public shareholding route or future capital-raising structure.
Important page focus
This Page Is Only for Public Limited Company / PLC Registration
This page should not compete with the ordinary private limited company pages. A Public Limited Company is a more specialised structure for public-company governance and possible public shareholding. For most SMEs, startups and foreign-owned local subsidiaries, the correct route is usually a private limited company, not a PLC.
- For ordinary company filing, see private limited company registration procedure in Kenya.
- For ordinary company costs, see cost of company registration in Kenya.
- For ordinary company documents, see company registration requirements in Kenya.
- For a foreign company branch, see foreign company branch registration in Kenya.
Table of contents
On this page
PLC definition and suitability
What Is a Public Limited Company in Kenya?
A Public Limited Company is a company whose articles allow members to transfer shares, whose articles do not prohibit invitations to the public to subscribe for shares or debentures, and whose certificate of incorporation states that it is a public company.
A PLC is not the standard SME vehicle. It is more appropriate where the promoters need a public-company structure, more formal governance, a company secretary, share-transfer flexibility, or a structure that may support future public investment planning.
Requirements intent
Public Limited Company Requirements in Kenya
Before starting the BRS/eCitizen filing, prepare the PLC-specific particulars and confirm that the public-company route is appropriate. The file should be complete before submission to reduce avoidable Registrar queries.
| Requirement | What to prepare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| PLC-compliant name | Proposed names ending with Public Limited Company or PLC. | Public limited company naming must reflect the PLC status. |
| Directors | At least two directors; at least one director should be a natural person. Prepare ID/passport, KRA PIN where applicable, contacts and addresses. | Public companies have a higher director threshold than private companies. |
| Company secretary | Secretary name, consent and particulars for CR10/secretary-related filing. | A public company should have a company secretary and the BRS public company document list includes CR10. |
| Shareholders / subscribers | Subscriber/shareholder details, addresses, ID/passport, KRA PIN where applicable, share allocation and contacts. | Required for the memorandum, statement of capital and ownership record. |
| Articles of association | Public-company articles or adoption of appropriate model articles where suitable. | The articles govern share transferability, public subscription position, meetings and internal governance. |
| Share capital | Statement of Nominal Capital, share classes, number of shares, nominal value and allocation. | Required for BRS filing and future shareholder governance. |
| Registered office | Physical office details including road, plot/building, town/county, postal address, phone and email. | Required for CR8 and BRS company records. |
| Beneficial ownership | Natural persons who ultimately own or control the company, where applicable. | Important for BRS ownership disclosure and compliance review. |
For ordinary private company documents, use the dedicated company registration requirements in Kenya page. This PLC page should remain limited to public-company registration.
Cost intent
Cost of Public Limited Company Registration in Kenya
Direct answer: the BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists KES 10,650 for Public Limited Company registration. The live eCitizen/BRS invoice should be treated as the final government amount payable at filing time.
| Cost item | Planning amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BRS Public Limited Company registration | KES 10,650 | Listed by BRS for Public Limited Company registration; confirm live portal invoice. |
| Professional filing support | Quoted per case | Depends on PLC structure, directors, secretary, articles, share capital, documents and urgency. |
| Company secretary support | Quoted separately | Required for PLC governance and BRS secretary particulars. |
| Public offer / listing advisory | Separate advisory | CMA/NSE/prospectus/public securities work is outside basic incorporation. |
| Post-registration compliance | Depends on scope | May include KRA PIN, CR12/official search, statutory registers, board resolutions, licences and tax setup. |
How-to intent
How to Register a Public Limited Company in Kenya
Direct answer: to register a Public Limited Company in Kenya, confirm that the PLC route is correct, prepare a name ending with Public Limited Company or PLC, prepare director, shareholder, secretary, registered office, articles and share capital details, complete the BRS/eCitizen public company application, generate and sign the required forms, upload documents, pay the invoice and respond to Registrar queries until the Certificate of Incorporation is issued.
- Confirm the PLC route. Check that a Public Limited Company is required, rather than an ordinary private limited company.
- Prepare the PLC name. Prepare proposed names ending with Public Limited Company or PLC.
- Prepare director details. Prepare at least two directors, including natural-person director details, addresses, contacts and ID/passport information.
- Prepare company secretary details. Confirm the secretary and prepare the particulars and consent needed for secretary-related filing.
- Prepare shareholder and share capital details. Confirm subscribers/shareholders, share allocation, share classes, nominal value and Statement of Nominal Capital.
- Prepare public-company articles. Confirm whether to adopt model articles or prepare specific articles suitable for a public company.
- Complete the BRS/eCitizen application. Enter the PLC particulars through the Companies Registry workflow.
- Generate and review forms. Review portal-generated forms and documents such as CR1, CR2, CR8, CR10, CR12 and Statement of Nominal Capital where generated.
- Sign and upload documents. Upload clear signed forms and supporting documents to reduce Registrar queries.
- Pay the BRS invoice and submit. Pay through eCitizen/BRS and submit the file for Registrar review.
- Track and respond to queries. Correct any name, secretary, director, share capital, article, signature or upload issue raised by the Registrar.
- Download the Certificate of Incorporation. After approval, download the certificate and preserve the PLC incorporation records.
Documents listed by BRS for Public Limited Company registration
The BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists the following documents for Public Limited Company registration:
- CR1 — application/statement of company registration.
- CR2 — memorandum for a company with share capital.
- CR8 — notice of residential address / registered-office-related particulars.
- CR10 — appointment of company secretary.
- CR12 — secretary residential address / secretary-related particulars as applicable through portal prompts.
- Statement of Nominal Capital — share capital declaration.
Duration intent
Public Company Registration Duration in Kenya
Direct answer: BRS lists 3–5 days for Public Limited Company registration where the application is complete. Practical timing can be longer where the PLC name, company secretary, articles, director details, shareholders, share capital or uploaded forms need correction.
| Stage | Typical planning timeline | What may delay it |
|---|---|---|
| PLC structure review | Same day to a few days | Unclear reason for PLC structure, public offer plans, missing secretary or unsettled share capital. |
| Document preparation | 1–3 days depending on completeness | Missing director, shareholder, secretary, address, KRA PIN, article or share allocation details. |
| BRS review after submission | 3–5 days for complete filings | Name issue, unsigned forms, secretary issue, articles issue, share capital inconsistency or unclear uploads. |
| Query correction | Depends on issue and response speed | Delayed clarification, revised documents or corrected forms. |
| Certificate download and handover | After approval | Unresolved portal query or access issue. |
Need a realistic PLC filing timeline?
Send the proposed PLC name, directors, company secretary details, share capital and intended activity. We will flag likely BRS issues before filing.
Governance and compliance
Company Secretary, Public Offers and PLC Compliance
A Public Limited Company has a more formal governance profile than an ordinary private limited company. The company secretary position should be planned before filing because secretary details are part of the public company registration package.
Company secretary
Prepare the company secretary details and consent before the BRS filing. Public companies should not be treated like ordinary small private companies for secretary planning.
Public subscription
The PLC structure may allow public subscription in principle, but public offers, prospectuses and securities work need separate legal and capital markets advice.
Trading certificate / capital markets
Where the PLC intends public securities activity, borrowing powers or listing, review Companies Act, CMA and NSE requirements separately before market-facing activity.
Post-registration records
After incorporation, maintain registers, secretary records, board/shareholder resolutions, filings, CR12/official records and tax compliance.
Service support
Why Choose Biz Brokers Kenya for PLC Registration?
PLC-only filing focus
We keep the filing focused on Public Limited Company requirements and avoid mixing it with ordinary private-company setup.
Registrar-ready documentation
We help organise the PLC name, directors, secretary, shareholders, articles, share capital and BRS forms before submission.
Query response support
We assist with correcting BRS queries on names, forms, signatures, share capital, secretary particulars and uploads.
Nairobi-based, Kenya-wide
Biz Brokers Kenya supports public company registration clients from Nairobi and across Kenya.
Official sources
Official Sources and Last-Checked Note
- BRS Fee Schedule — Companies Registry
- Companies Act, 2015 — Kenya Law
- Registrar of Companies Forms Rules — Kenya Law
Last checked: 22 June 2026. Official portal fees, timelines, form prompts, Companies Act requirements and capital markets requirements may change. Confirm the live eCitizen/BRS position before filing.
FAQs on Public Limited Company Registration in Kenya
What is a Public Limited Company in Kenya?
A Public Limited Company, or PLC, is a company whose articles allow members to transfer their shares, whose articles do not prohibit public subscription for shares or debentures, and whose certificate of incorporation states that it is a public company.
How much does it cost to register a Public Limited Company in Kenya?
The BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists Public Limited Company registration at KES 10,650. Treat the live eCitizen/BRS invoice as the final government amount payable at filing time.
How long does Public Limited Company registration take in Kenya?
BRS lists 3–5 days for Public Limited Company registration where the filing is complete. Practical completion may take longer if the PLC name, secretary details, directors, articles, share capital, signatures or uploaded forms require correction.
What documents are required for Public Limited Company registration?
The BRS public company registration entry lists CR1, CR2, CR8, CR10, CR12 and Statement of Nominal Capital. The live BRS/eCitizen workflow should be followed because the portal controls the documents to generate, sign and upload.
Does a Public Limited Company need a company secretary?
Yes. A Public Limited Company should have a company secretary. The BRS public company document list includes CR10, which relates to the appointment of a company secretary.
How many directors does a Public Limited Company need in Kenya?
Under the Companies Act framework, a public company requires at least two directors, and companies should have at least one natural-person director. Additional governance requirements may apply depending on the company structure and activity.
Is a PLC the same as an ordinary limited company?
No. An ordinary private limited company is normally the simpler vehicle for SMEs, startups and subsidiaries. A PLC is a public-company structure with more formal governance, company secretary planning and possible public subscription considerations.
Can a Public Limited Company offer shares to the public immediately after registration?
Not automatically. A PLC structure may allow public subscription in principle, but any public offer, prospectus, listing, securities issue or capital markets transaction requires separate legal, CMA, NSE and professional advisory review.
Can Biz Brokers Kenya help with PLC registration?
Yes. We can assist with PLC structure review, BRS/eCitizen filing, proposed name, secretary details, directors, shareholders, articles, share capital, CR forms, Registrar queries and post-registration records planning.
Register a Public Limited Company in Kenya
Send the proposed PLC name, intended business activity, directors, company secretary position, shareholders/subscribers and share capital. We will review the filing route and quote.