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How to Verify a Registered Company in Kenya Before You Pay

Kelvin Kibet

Before paying a supplier, entering a partnership or sending money to a company in Kenya, it is worth confirming that the business details you have been given match official registration records. A logo, website, social-media page or certificate sent on WhatsApp is not enough on its own.

Start with the Business Registration Service

Kenya’s Business Registration Service (BRS) is the government body responsible for maintaining company, business-name and limited-liability-partnership records. BRS services are available through eCitizen.

What an official company search can tell you

For companies, BRS offers an official search commonly referred to as a CR12. The official search is useful when you want to confirm that the entity exists in the registry and review the company information returned by the Registrar.

BRS currently lists the official search for companies as a paid service and states that verified companies can generate the search instantly, while non-verified records can take longer. Fees and processing times can change, so always confirm the amount shown in eCitizen before paying.

How to apply for an official search

  1. Log in to your eCitizen account.
  2. Open the Business Registration Service.
  3. Choose the option to make an application.
  4. Select Official Search for the relevant company.
  5. Enter the registered company name or registration number carefully.
  6. Select the correct entity from the results.
  7. Provide the applicant details requested by the portal.
  8. Review the declaration, submit the request and pay the fee displayed by eCitizen.

Do not rely on the trading name alone

A business may market itself under a name that is slightly different from its registered legal entity. Before making a large payment, compare the legal name in the official search with the name on the quotation, invoice, contract and bank or payment instructions.

What else should you verify?

A company search is only one layer of due diligence. Depending on the transaction, also consider:

  • Whether the person signing the agreement is authorised to act for the company.
  • Whether the physical address and contact details are consistent.
  • Whether the business needs a sector-specific licence from another regulator.
  • Whether payment is being requested to an account whose name makes sense for the transaction.
  • Whether the contract clearly identifies the registered entity you are dealing with.

Red flags before you pay

  • The seller refuses to provide a registration name or number.
  • The legal company name keeps changing between documents.
  • You are pressured to pay immediately before doing verification.
  • A large business payment is requested to an unrelated personal account without a clear explanation.
  • The only “proof” offered is a screenshot or editable PDF sent by the seller.

Company registration does not guarantee a safe deal

Finding a registered company does not prove that every offer made in its name is genuine, nor does it guarantee that a transaction will be successful. Fraudsters can impersonate real companies, and legitimate companies can still be involved in disputes. Use the official search as part of a wider verification process.

Official sources

For current information, use the BRS Companies Registry, the BRS fee schedule and the official Business Registration Service inside eCitizen.

Related guide: How to Verify a Recruitment Agency in Kenya Before Paying Any Fees.

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Kelvin Kibet

Kelvin Kibet is a journalist and multimedia professional with more than six years of experience in journalism, digital media, content production, and newsroom operations.As Editor-in-Chief of Daily Report KE, Kelvin provides editorial leadership and oversees the quality, accuracy, and integrity of the platform's published content. He works with the editorial team to ensure that stories are properly reviewed, fact-checked, contextualized, and presented in accordance with professional journalistic standards.His responsibilities include supervising reporting processes, coordinating newsroom operations, reviewing stories before publication, strengthening editorial procedures, and maintaining standards of accuracy, fairness, and responsible journalism.Kelvin has experience in news reporting, digital journalism, multimedia storytelling, video production, community journalism, and editorial management. He is committed to producing informative, accurate, and public-interest content for Daily Report KE's readers.Areas of Expertise News Reporting Digital Journalism Multimedia Storytelling Investigative Reporting Community Journalism Editorial Management Video Production Content Production Key Responsibilities Editorial leadership and oversight Story review and publishing standards Fact-checking and verification Newsroom coordination Editorial planning and content development Newsroom ethics and quality control Maintaining accuracy and responsible journalism