Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 8/13/2019

To establish a legal presence in Kenya, U.S. firms may need to register with the Kenyan Registrar of Companies as a foreign company.  Incorporation of a company in Kenya as a subsidiary of a U.S. corporation, as opposed to the registration of a U.S. firm, is a more complicated and expensive process.

The Registrar of Companies issues a "Certificate of Compliance" that certifies that the requirements of the Kenyan Companies Act have been fulfilled. This allows the company to obtain trading licenses from local authorities and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives.

The U.S. Commercial Service Kenya recommends that U.S. firms obtain the services of a local attorney to undertake registration.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.