Company registration in Kenya by a foreigner

1. How long it will take for company registration?

It will take five days to register your company here in Kenya. Company registration in Kenya is carried out by the registrar of companies under the business registration services. After the registrar of companies issues the company with the registration certificate, we proceed with the Kenya revenue authority pin certificate for company and the foreign director pin application. All this services can be done within five working days. Bank application starts when we process all company documents.

 

2. Can our subsidiary be 100% Foreign-owned Company?

Yes, a foreigner can own a private limited company here in Kenya 100%. There is no specific restriction on foreign nationals owning a company in Kenya. The only restriction is only in specific regulated sectors such as banking, telecommunication and aviation which requires local shareholding.

 

3. What is the minimum number of shareholders?

The companies Act provides for a minimum of one Director / shareholder in a company, so there can be a sole director / shareholder in a Kenya Company. A director can be the sole director and a shareholder in a company. Also, a director can be different from the shareholder.

 

4. Can the shareholder be a natural person or legal person or both is ok?

Shareholders can either be natural person or legal person or both at the same time. This is allowed by the law. Directors can only be natural person.

 

5. What is the minimum paid up capital?

There is no minimum paid up capital. This depends with the director shareholders of the company decision. Only specific sector requires minimum paid up capital such as banking and aviation.

6. How soon should we transfer the capitals into the bank account after the registration of the company?

You can transfer the capital any time after the bank account opening. When the bank account is opened, you can conduct your business transaction using the bank account. This is the director’s decision on when to transfer the capital into the account.  This can be done online via online banking.

 

7.What documents are required from us for company registration Can you please make a detailed list for me?  And what documents is required to be notarized in our country?

• Proposed name of the company. Can be different to the one registered in home country
• Nature of business / objectives of the company. Can be several objectives.
• Names of the Directors of the company.
• Names of the shareholders if different from the directors.
• Contact information of the directors and shareholders – Email address, Telephone number, postal address and residential addresses.
• Division of shares between the shareholders of the company.
• Scans of Passport bio data and passport photo of directors and shareholders duly certified by a public notary.
• Nominal capital of the company. This may be increased later after company registration.
• A copy of the company’s certificate of incorporation or registration in its place of origin duly certified by a public notary.
• A copy of the company’s constitution/memorandum and articles of association duly certified by a public notary.
• Registered office in its place of origin, or its principal place of business in its place of origin.
• Foreign documents should be translated into English

8.What documents are required from us for bank account opening? And is there any document is required to be notarized in our country? Can you make a list please?

• Contact information of the directors and shareholders – Email address, Telephone number and residential addresses.
• Scans of Passport bio data and passport photo of directors and shareholders duly certified by a public notary.
• A copy of the company’s certificate of incorporation or registration in its place of origin duly certified by a public notary.
• A copy of the company’s constitution/memorandum and articles of association duly certified by a public notary.
• Registered office in its place of origin, or its principal place of business in its place of origin.
• Signatory signing and transactions instructions. cheque books instructions

 

9. What documents will we receive after the company is successfully registered? Can you please make a list for me too?

• Company registration certificate
• Cr 1, cr 2, cr 8 statements of capital duly certified
• Kenya revenue authority pin certificate for company/itax portal for company
• Kenya revenue authority pin certificate for foreigners
• County business permit-to confirm registered office
• Company mobile number
• Company p.o box number postal address
• Company bank account/online banking
• Company seal, stamp and letterhead