You confirm that a company is registered in Kenya by running an official search of the companies register held by the Business Registration Service (BRS). The document it produces is the CR12, and the official fee is KES 650. Where the company’s records are already verified on the register the search returns the same day; where they are not, BRS gives 3–5 days. The equivalent search for a registered business name produces a CR13 and costs KES 250.
Fees verified against the BRS Companies Registry fee schedule. These are official government fees and are exclusive of legal fees and disbursements. Last reviewed on 7 August 2026 by the Corporate and Commercial team at OLM Law Advocates LLP.
| Search | Document produced | Official BRS fee (KES) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Search – companies | CR12 | 650 | Instant where the company is verified on the register, otherwise 3–5 days |
| Official Search – business names | CR13 | 250 | Instant where the business name is verified on the register |
A CR12 is a certified extract issued by the Registrar of Companies. It states the company’s registered particulars as they stand on the register on the date it is issued: the registered name and registration number, the registered office, the directors, and the shareholders together with their shareholding. Because it is issued by the Registrar rather than by the company, it is the document banks, procuring entities and counterparties ask for when they need independent proof of who owns and controls a Kenyan company.
It is easy to confuse two different things. A name search tells you whether a name appears on the register, and it is the tool you use when you are choosing a name for a new company. It is not evidence of registration, it is not certified, and it does not tell you who the directors or shareholders are. If you are being asked to prove that a company exists, or you are checking a counterparty before you sign or pay, you need the official search and the CR12, not a name lookup.
Older companies were registered on paper and their records have been migrated to the electronic register over time. Where a company’s file has been fully verified, the search is generated immediately. Where it has not, the registry has to confirm the particulars against the physical file first, which is what the 3–5 day window is for. If a company incorporated many years ago has never updated its filings, expect the longer route and build it into your transaction timetable.
Banks require one to open or update a corporate account and to satisfy their know-your-customer obligations. Procuring entities require one in tender submissions, and it is also how compliance with local shareholding requirements is demonstrated. Buyers and investors require one at the start of due diligence, because it is the only independent statement of who the shareholders are. It is also commonly needed for litigation, to confirm the correct legal name and directors of a party, and for various regulatory and licensing applications.
A CR12 confirms registered particulars. It is not a clean bill of health. It does not show whether the company is solvent, whether it is trading, whether it has tax arrears, whether its assets are charged, whether it holds the licences its business requires, or whether there is litigation against it. It also reflects only what has actually been filed, so if a share transfer or a change of directors was never notified to the registry, the CR12 will show the old position. Proper due diligence pairs the CR12 with a search of charges, a tax compliance check and, for land, a search at the relevant registry. Beneficial ownership information is filed separately and is not part of the CR12.
KES 650 in official BRS fees. That is the government charge for the official search; any professional fee for having the search run and reviewed is separate.
A CR12 has no statutory expiry, but it only states the position on its date of issue. In practice the institution asking for it sets the limit, and requirements of thirty days or six months are both common. Always check what the recipient will accept before you order one.
The companies register is a public register and an official search can be requested against any registered company; you do not need the company’s consent. This is what makes it useful for checking a counterparty.
A certificate of incorporation is issued once, when the company is formed, and proves that it came into existence. A CR12 is issued on request and states the company’s current registered particulars, including its directors and shareholders. A certificate of incorporation cannot tell you who owns the company today; a recent CR12 can.
Business names sit on a different register. The official search for a business name costs KES 250 and produces a CR13, which gives the registered particulars of the business name and its proprietors.
OLM Law Advocates LLP runs official searches and company due diligence in Kenya, and advises on what the results mean for a transaction. If you are setting up rather than checking, see our guide to company registration in Kenya, the official cost of company registration, the documents and requirements checklist, registering a company as a foreigner, the beneficial ownership details of its controllers, the shareholders’ agreement, how to go about transferring shares, or the company’s annual returns. To ask us to run a search, get in touch.
