Kenya Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Kenya (Private Limited Company)
Planning a Kenya company registration or looking to set up a company in Kenya to reach the East African market? The most common company type in Kenya is the private limited company, which is incorporated online through the Business Registration Service (BRS) system on eCitizen. Invest Kenya states that foreign investors can own 100% in most sectors without a local partner.
A private limited company has no statutory minimum capital, and the BRS incorporation fee is KES 10,650. Resident corporate income tax is 30%, the general VAT rate is 16%, VAT registration is required once annual sales reach KES 5,000,000, and special economic zones have preferential tax rates. NSS Group (戰國策集團) provides one-stop Kenya company formation, from shareholding structure assessment, tax PINs for directors and shareholders, name approval and the BRS incorporation application to tax registration and annual filing reminders, so you can complete your Kenya limited company setup.
Invest Kenya states that foreign investors can own 100% in most sectors without a local partner. Only regulated sectors such as insurance, aviation and mining have restrictions.
Company registration is done fully online on the BRS system on eCitizen. Invest Kenya says it takes about 1 to 2 days once the documents are complete and payment is made.
A private limited company has no statutory minimum capital, and a company secretary is required only when share capital exceeds KES 5,000,000, which suits small and medium-sized investments.
Special economic zone businesses pay 10% corporate income tax for the first 10 years and 15% for the next 10 years, and export processing zone businesses are tax-exempt for the first 10 years.
company in Kenya
Invest Kenya positions Kenya as East Africa’s investment hub, with a digital one-stop center that coordinates company and tax registration, sector permits and immigration services. Company registration is done fully online on the Business Registration Service system on eCitizen. A private limited company pays a registration fee of KES 10,650 and has no statutory minimum capital, and foreign investors can own 100% in most sectors. Resident corporate income tax is 30% and VAT is 16%, with preferential rates in special economic zones and export processing zones. Kenya suits companies planning for the East African market, manufacturing, agriculture, ICT and outsourcing services.
in 3 steps
In Kenya, the most common company type is the private limited company formed under the Companies Act, 2015. Its name must end with Limited or Ltd, it can have up to 50 members, and it cannot offer shares to the public. The incorporation application is done fully online on the Business Registration Service system on eCitizen, and the certificate of incorporation can be downloaded once approved.
Company formation in Kenya is digital, but directors and shareholders must first obtain a PIN on the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax system. After setup, the company also has obligations such as annual returns, a register of beneficial owners, corporate income tax installments and monthly VAT returns. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, prepare the documents and arrange annual maintenance, so your Kenya company stays clear and compliant from formation to operation.
Log in to the Business Registration Service (BRS) system on eCitizen and submit 3 to 5 proposed company names in order of preference; the name must end with Limited or Ltd. All directors and shareholders must first register on the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax system to get a PIN and prepare their passports and recent color photos.
On the BRS system, enter the company details, the directors’ and shareholders’ details and shareholdings, download the generated incorporation forms, sign, scan and upload them, confirm the details and pay the private limited company registration fee of KES 10,650. Once approved, you can download the Certificate of Incorporation.
After setup, register for corporate income tax, PAYE and other taxes with the Kenya Revenue Authority through iTax, and register for VAT once annual sales reach KES 5,000,000. Keep a register of beneficial owners and obtain the business permits your sector needs; foreign managers can apply for a Class G investor permit through the Invest Kenya one-stop center.
end-to-end service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Kenya bank account documents and process advice
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment scheduling and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company dissolution
- Legal advisory support
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- Company type and shareholding structure assessment
- KRA iTax PIN preparation for directors and shareholders
- eCitizen name approval and BRS incorporation application
- KRA tax and VAT registration
- Annual return and beneficial ownership filing reminders
Official fees: private limited company registration KES 10,650, foreign company registration KES 7,550, official company search KES 650; other items as quoted
Kenya company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when registering a company in Kenya, checked against official notices (updated November 2026).
| Company type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Registry | Business Registration Service (BRS), online application on eCitizen |
| Foreign ownership | 100% allowed in most sectors; regulated sectors have restrictions |
| Minimum capital | No statutory minimum capital for a private limited company |
| Corporate income tax | 30% for resident companies |
| VAT | 16%; registration required from annual sales of KES 5,000,000 |
| Setup time | About 1 to 2 days after complete documents and payment, according to Invest Kenya |
| Annual filings | BRS annual return; income tax within 6 months after year end |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Kenya company formation cost: fee breakdown
The main government cost of registering a company in Kenya is the Business Registration Service incorporation fee. A private limited company has no statutory minimum capital, so the main costs after setup are tax registration, bookkeeping and annual filings. The official figures are listed below so you can check every line of a quote.
| Item | Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Private limited company registration | KES 10,650 | Applied for online with the Business Registration Service; the fee schedule lists about 3 to 5 days to issue the certificate of incorporation. |
| Foreign company (branch) registration | KES 7,550 | For a foreign company setting up a branch in Kenya; a certificate of compliance is issued. |
| Official company search (CR12) | KES 650 | Used to look up registered details such as directors and shareholders. |
| Business name registration | KES 950 | A business name is not a legal entity; it suits individuals or small businesses. |
| Annual return and beneficial ownership filing | As announced by the authority | An annual return is filed with the BRS each year; changes in beneficial ownership must be reported within 14 days. |
| Bookkeeping and tax filing | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | The annual corporate income tax return is due by the end of the 6th month after the financial year ends, and VAT returns are due by the 20th of each month. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, VAT registration needs, work permits and tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow the Business Registration Service (BRS) Companies Registry fee schedule. The latest official notices prevail.
Kenya company tax and compliance: corporate income tax, VAT and annual returns
A Kenya company mainly pays corporate income tax and VAT. Tax registration and filing are done on the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax system, and company law adds annual return and beneficial ownership register obligations. Foreign shareholders should check whether their country has a tax treaty with Kenya and any controlled foreign company (CFC) rules at home.
| Item | Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 30% for resident companies | Restored to 30% from January 1, 2021; for non-resident branches, the KRA page lists 37.5% while the PwC 2026 summary lists 30%, so confirm case by case. |
| VAT | General rate 16% | Registration is required once taxable sales reach KES 5,000,000 in a year, and voluntary registration is possible below that; file and pay by the 20th of each month. |
| Dividend withholding tax | 15% for non-residents | According to the PwC tax summary, resident shareholders holding 12.5% or more are exempt and others pay 5%; dividends paid by SEZ businesses are exempt. |
| Installment tax | 4 installments of 25% each | Paid by the 20th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th months of the financial year. |
| Annual return | Within 6 months after year end | A December year-end company files its corporate income tax return by June 30 of the following year, and also files an annual return with the BRS each year. |
| Beneficial owners | Report changes within 14 days | A person holding 10% or more of shares or voting rights, among other tests, is a beneficial owner; failing to keep or file the register carries a fine of up to KES 500,000. |
| Special economic zone incentives | SEZ: 10% for the first 10 years | According to the PwC tax summary, SEZ businesses pay 15% for the next 10 years; export processing zone businesses pay 0% for the first 10 years and 25% for the next 10 years. |
Tax rates and rules follow notices from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Business Registration Service; some rates follow the PwC tax summary (a secondary source). Have an accountant review how they apply to your actual structure.
Private limited company or foreign company branch: which should you choose in Kenya?
When foreign businesses set up a company in Kenya, they usually compare forming a new private limited company with registering their existing company as a foreign company and opening a branch.
| Item | Private limited company | Foreign company (branch) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | A Kenyan legal entity formed under the Companies Act | A branch of a foreign company in Kenya, not a separate legal entity |
| Number of members | Up to 50 | Set up by the foreign parent company |
| Minimum capital | No statutory minimum capital | Ask our consultants |
| BRS registration fee | KES 10,650 | KES 7,550 |
| Corporate income tax | 30% | 37.5% on the KRA page; 30% in the PwC 2026 summary |
| Local officers | A company secretary is required when share capital exceeds KES 5,000,000 | A local representative must be appointed (GTAI) |
These are general principles. Base the actual choice on your shareholder background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Kenya
- Travel safety: check your own government's travel advice before visiting. Taiwan's Bureau of Consular Affairs rates Kenya at level 3, "avoid travel" (issued or updated October 22, 2026), citing an imported Ebola death case found in Kenya in October and security risks in parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, and advises against travel to the northwest, the northern border areas, coastal counties such as Lamu and areas near the Somali border.
- Work status: foreign investors must apply to the Directorate of Immigration Services for a Class G investor permit or another work permit, and the Invest Kenya digital one-stop center can help with the application.
- Tax PIN: all directors and shareholders must first register on the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax system and get a PIN before the incorporation application can be submitted, so foreign nationals should allow time for this.
- Tax treaties and CFC rules: check whether your country has an income tax treaty with Kenya, which can reduce withholding tax on dividends and interest, and whether your home country applies controlled foreign company (CFC) rules or outbound investment approval to a Kenya subsidiary.
Why work with NSS Group on your Kenya company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served. It provides company formation, bank account opening, accounting, tax and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Kenya, and can handle tax PIN preparation for directors and shareholders and the eCitizen online incorporation application. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Call the toll-free line 0800-003-191 or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: Business Registration Service (BRS): Companies Registry; BRS: Fee Schedule – Companies Registry; BRS: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF); BRS: Entities Registered; BRS public notice: Compliance with Beneficial Ownership Information (2024-10-17); Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA): Taxation for Companies & Partnerships; KRA: Value Added Tax; KRA public notice: Accounting for Corporation Tax (Residents) in Years of income 2020 and 2021; Invest Kenya: Resources / FAQs; Invest Kenya: Investing in Kenya setup steps; Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Kenia Gesellschaftsrecht (2025-10-23); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Kenya Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-07-17); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Kenya Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-07-17). The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Kenya in 2026?
Under the Business Registration Service (BRS) fee schedule, registering a private limited company costs KES 10,650, registering a foreign company (branch) costs KES 7,550, and an official company search costs KES 650. A private limited company has no statutory minimum capital. You should also budget for maintenance after KRA tax registration, such as bookkeeping, annual returns and beneficial ownership filings. The latest official notices prevail.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Kenya company?
Yes. Invest Kenya states that foreign investors can own 100% in most sectors without a local partner; regulated sectors such as insurance, capital markets, private security, aviation and mining have restrictions. Directors and shareholders must first obtain a PIN on the Kenya Revenue Authority iTax system, and a company with share capital above KES 5,000,000 must appoint a qualified company secretary.
Do I need to be in Kenya in person to set up a company?
According to the BRS, name approval, data entry, uploading the signed and scanned forms, and payment for a private limited company are all done online on the BRS system on eCitizen. However, directors and shareholders must first obtain a KRA PIN, and bank account opening and work permits follow the bank’s and the immigration authority’s rules, so check case by case whether you need to attend in person.
How long does it take to set up a company in Kenya?
Invest Kenya says registration takes about 1 to 2 days once the documents are complete, the forms are filled in and payment is made; the BRS fee schedule lists about 3 to 5 days for issuing the certificate of incorporation of a private limited company. It takes longer if the name is rejected, the directors’ and shareholders’ tax registration is not ready or details need correcting. After setup, tax registration and business permits are still needed.
What taxes and documents does a Kenya company file each year?
Each year the company files an annual return with the BRS and maintains a register of beneficial owners, with changes reported within 14 days. The corporate income tax rate is 30%, the annual return is due by the end of the 6th month after the financial year ends, and installment tax is paid in 4 installments. VAT-registered companies file and pay 16% VAT by the 20th of each month.
Who can help me register a company in Kenya?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served, NSS Group offers one-stop Kenya company registration: company type and shareholding structure assessment, KRA PIN preparation for directors and shareholders, eCitizen name approval and BRS incorporation application, tax and VAT registration, and reminders for annual returns and beneficial ownership filings. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Call the toll-free line 0800-003-191.