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Kenya: Business Registration Service search and beneficial ownership

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Countries

Companies in Kenya are registered by the Business Registration Service (BRS) 1. An official search, formerly called a CR12, is ordered through the BRS service on eCitizen and costs KES 650, according to the BRS application guide 2. Since amendments to the Companies Act 2015, every company keeps a register of beneficial owners and lodges it with the Registrar 5. The regulations bar the Registrar from publishing beneficial ownership information, with two exceptions, and limit access to listed bodies 4.
Registry
Business Registration Service, Companies Registry 1
Online channel
BRS service on eCitizen 2
Official search (formerly CR12)
KES 650 per the BRS guide and FAQ 2,3
Beneficial owner threshold
At least 10 percent of shares or voting rights, or control tests 4
Beneficial ownership register public?
No, with two exceptions 4

How to order an official search

BRS describes the official search as a computer-generated certificate addressed to the person or business that applied 2. Only companies with a Verified status generate an automated official search 2. The BRS guide lists these steps 2.

  • Log in to eCitizen and select Business Registration Service (BRS) 2.
  • Choose make application, then Official Search (Formerly Cr12) for Private Limited Companies 2.
  • Enter the registration name or number, select the company and click next 2.
  • Click Save and Continue, confirm that you have given the information the Registrar requires, then click finish to pay the fee 2.

Fees

The BRS application guide and the BRS FAQ give the official search fee as KES 650 2,3. The BRS fee schedule page lists two figures for the same service, 650 and 600 1. Check the amount shown on eCitizen before paying.

ItemFeeSource
Official search, companies (formerly CR12) 2KES 650 2BRS application guide (July 2023) 2
Official search, companies 1650 and 600 both listed 1BRS fee schedule page (modified 4 January 2023) 1
Beneficial ownership search request 4600, currency not shown in the schedule text 4Second Schedule to the regulations 4

Beneficial ownership rules under the Companies Act 2015

Section 93A of the Companies Act 2015 requires every company to keep a register of its beneficial owners. The section carries annotations to Act No. 12 of 2019 and Act No. 10 of 2023 5. Section 16A requires a statement of beneficial owner particulars when a company is incorporated 5.

The Companies (Beneficial Ownership Information) Regulations, Legal Notice 12 of 2020, commenced on 28 February 2020. They were amended by Legal Notice 32 of 2022 and Legal Notice 162 of 2023 4. A beneficial owner is a natural person who holds at least 10 percent of the issued shares or voting rights, directly or indirectly, or who can appoint or remove a majority of the board, or who has significant influence or control 4.

  • A new company lodges the register when it files its incorporation documents 5.
  • An existing company had 60 days from the start of the section to lodge, which the Registrar could extend by up to 30 days 5.
  • Changes are lodged within 14 days for companies that are not listed, and within 30 days for public listed companies 5.
  • Late filing of changes carries an administrative penalty of KSh 2,000 and KSh 100 for each further day 5.
  • Directors, director shareholders or company secretaries file on BRS by downloading the auto-generated Beneficial Ownership Information Form, signing it and uploading it 3.

Who can see beneficial ownership data

Regulation 15 says beneficial ownership information shall not be made available to the public or published 4. The two exceptions are publication by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority for entities awarded tenders, and publication by a government where the matter is of public interest 4.

  • Competent authorities, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, the Public Private Partnerships Committee, financial sector supervisors and anti-money laundering agencies can get the data on written request 4.
  • Financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses or professions can apply on Form BOF6 and pay a fee. Protected personal information is left out 4.
  • The data can be disclosed under a court order 4.
  • Using the data for a purpose other than the one it was obtained for is an offence, with a fine of up to KSh 20,000, prison of up to six months, or both 4.

Common questions

How much is a CR12 search in Kenya?

The BRS application guide and FAQ give KES 650 for the official search that replaced the CR12 2,3. The BRS fee schedule page shows both 650 and 600 1.

Where do I apply for an official search?

Log in to eCitizen, choose the Business Registration Service and apply for Official Search (Formerly Cr12) for Private Limited Companies 2.

Can the public search Kenya's beneficial ownership register?

No. Regulation 15 bars the Registrar from making the data public, with two exceptions for procurement and public interest cases 4.

What counts as a beneficial owner in Kenya?

A natural person with at least 10 percent of the issued shares or voting rights, the power to appoint or remove a majority of the board, or significant influence or control 4.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

  1. Business Registration Service: Fee Schedule, Companies Registry (modified 4 January 2023)
  2. Business Registration Service: How to Apply for Official Search (July 2023)
  3. Business Registration Service: Frequently Asked Questions (May 2024)
  4. Kenya Law: The Companies (Beneficial Ownership Information) Regulations, Legal Notice 12 of 2020 (version of 19 October 2023)
  5. Kenya Law: Companies Act 2015, No. 17 of 2015 (version of 27 December 2024)

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