Entering Kenya.
For international founders and companies establishing a Kenyan presence — from first market study to a fully staffed, compliant operation on the ground.
Entering a market is not incorporation. It is research, structure, tax, people, banking and compliance — sequenced correctly. We run all of it with one local team.
Book an Advisory Call →Everything you need to land and operate.
Take the whole programme or only the parts you're missing. Most companies start with market research and structuring, hire through our EOR while the entity is being registered, then move staff across once banking and licences are live.
Sizing, pricing, competitor mapping and channel reality — what the market actually pays, not what a report says.
Subsidiary, branch or representative office, shareholding, holding-company location and the tax consequences of each.
Name search, BRS incorporation on eCitizen, CR12, beneficial ownership filing and certified documents.
KRA PIN, VAT and PAYE registration, county single business permit and any sector licence you need to trade legally.
Vetted distributors, agents, suppliers and joint-venture counterparties — with references checked before you sign.
Role scoping against Kenyan salary bands, shortlisting, contracts that comply with the Employment Act, and onboarding.
Hire and pay Kenyan staff before your entity exists. We employ them; you direct the work. PAYE, NSSF and SHIF handled.
Corporate account opening, KYC packs for foreign directors, FX and repatriation planning, and payment rails including M-Pesa.
Offices, serviced space or warehousing, utilities, insurance, logistics and the first local hires to run it.
Annual returns, statutory filings, tax returns, work permits and renewals — kept current so nothing lapses quietly.
Questions we're asked before landing.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Kenya?
Yes. A private limited company in Kenya can be wholly foreign-owned in most sectors. A small number of sectors — including insurance, telecommunications, mining and some ICT licences — carry local shareholding requirements, and land ownership is restricted to leasehold for non-citizens.
Do I need to be in Kenya to register a company?
No. Registration is done online through the BRS on eCitizen and can be completed with certified copies of passports and proof of address. You will, however, need a resident director or authorised local representative for some banking and tax steps.
What is the difference between a subsidiary and a branch in Kenya?
A subsidiary is a separate Kenyan company that limits the parent's liability and is taxed at the resident corporate rate. A branch is an extension of the foreign parent, is taxed at the higher non-resident rate, and exposes the parent directly. Most entrants choose a subsidiary.
Can I hire staff in Kenya without setting up a company?
Yes — through an Employer of Record (EOR). The EOR employs the staff on your behalf and handles payroll, PAYE, NSSF and SHIF while you direct the work. It is the fastest way to test the market before committing to an entity.
General information only, current at time of writing. Requirements change — confirm specifics with your advisor before acting.
The Kenya Market Entry Brief.
Enter your email and we'll send the brief we give incoming companies — structure comparison, real timelines, landed cost of setting up, and the compliance calendar for year one.
- Subsidiary vs branch vs representative office, compared on tax and liability
- Registration, banking and permit timelines that reflect reality
- Typical first-year cost of an entity, an EOR hire and an office
- Year-one statutory compliance calendar
