Updated 17 October 2026
Before you hire a lawyer, see a doctor, sign off building plans or pay an accountant, it takes two minutes to confirm they are registered with the body that regulates them. Kenya’s professional regulators publish their registers online so that the public can check. This page gathers the official registers in one place, explains what to search for, and tells you what the result means. We link to each regulator’s own live register rather than copying it, because registration and licence status change during the year and only the regulator’s current record counts.
In this guide
- Doctors and Dentists: KMPDC
- Hospitals, Clinics and Other Health Facilities
- Nurses and Midwives: Nursing Council of Kenya
- Advocates: Law Society of Kenya and the Judiciary
- Engineers: Engineers Board of Kenya
- Architects and Quantity Surveyors: BORAQS
- Accountants: ICPAK
- Loan Apps, Saccos and Investment Firms
- How to Read the Result
- Red Flags
- Reporting Someone Who Is Not Registered
- Frequently Asked Questions
Doctors and Dentists: KMPDC
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council registers and licenses medical and dental practitioners and health facilities. Its registers list licensed local practitioners with their registration number, qualifications, discipline, specialty and status, with separate lists for foreign practitioners and community oral health officers.
Search by: the doctor’s name or registration number. Check: that the status is active and the person appears on the list of practitioners licensed for the current year. Being registered once is not the same as holding this year’s licence. If the doctor works at a clinic, check the facility too (below).
Hospitals, Clinics and Other Health Facilities
KMPDC also licenses health facilities, and the Social Health Authority runs a facility lookup that shows whether a facility is contracted under SHA. Checking both tells you whether a clinic is licensed and whether you can use SHA there.
See also our guide on how to check if a health facility is licensed by KMPDC.
Nurses and Midwives: Nursing Council of Kenya
The Nursing Council of Kenya runs a licence status check on its online services portal. It is used by employers, patients and nurses themselves to confirm that a practising licence is current.
Open the Nursing Council licence status check
Search by: the licence number where you have it, as names can repeat. Check: the cadre and whether the licence is valid today.
Advocates: Law Society of Kenya and the Judiciary
An advocate must be on the Roll of Advocates and hold a current practising certificate to act for you. You can search members on the Law Society of Kenya portal, and the Judiciary’s Advocates Management System lets you search advocates and verify a digital practising certificate using the number printed on it.
Open the LSK member portal · Judiciary page on advocates
Check: the name matches exactly and the practising certificate is for the current year. If someone claims to be an advocate but you cannot find them on either system, do not hand over documents or money.
Engineers: Engineers Board of Kenya
The Engineers Board of Kenya keeps the register of engineers, including professional engineers and graduate engineers. Only registered professional engineers may sign off engineering work that the law reserves for them.
Architects and Quantity Surveyors: BORAQS
The Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors publishes lists of registered architects, quantity surveyors and firms, showing the registration number, name, town and status.
Tip: check both the individual and the firm if you are signing a contract with a practice.
Accountants: ICPAK
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya has a member search on its website. It searches by ICPAK member number, so ask the accountant for theirs.
Loan Apps, Saccos and Investment Firms
For money businesses we keep searchable copies of the regulators’ published lists, with the list date shown on every result. Use our licence checker to search CBK-licensed digital lenders, SASRA-licensed Saccos and firms licensed or approved by the Capital Markets Authority, including online forex brokers, fund managers, stockbrokers and investment advisers.
How to Read the Result
- Found and active: the person or firm is on the register. Make sure the name, registration number and, where shown, the photo or town match the person in front of you. Scammers sometimes borrow the name of a real professional.
- Found but inactive, suspended or not licensed this year: they are on the register but may not be allowed to practise right now. Ask them about it and do not proceed until it is resolved.
- Not found: try other spellings and the registration number. Registers can lag behind new admissions by a few weeks. If you still cannot find them, ask for their registration number and certificate and check again, or contact the regulator.
Red Flags
- Refusing to give a registration or member number.
- A certificate whose number does not verify on the regulator’s site.
- Asking you to pay large sums into a personal M-Pesa number rather than a firm account.
- Pressure to sign or pay immediately.
Reporting Someone Who Is Not Registered
Each regulator accepts complaints about unregistered practice and misconduct. For medical cases contact KMPDC, for nurses the Nursing Council, for advocates the Law Society of Kenya or the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal, and for engineers, architects or accountants their respective board or institute. If you have lost money, also report to the police.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a doctor is registered in Kenya?
Search the doctor’s name or registration number on the KMPDC registers and confirm they are licensed for the current year.
How do I know if an advocate is genuine?
Search the LSK member portal or the Judiciary’s advocate search, and verify their digital practising certificate number with the Judiciary.
Why do you link to the registers instead of listing names here?
Licence status changes during the year. A copy could be out of date, so only the regulator’s live register should be relied on.
Can I check a nurse’s licence online?
Yes, on the Nursing Council of Kenya’s licence status page. Use the licence number for the most accurate result.
What if a professional is not on the register?
Ask for their registration number, check again, and contact the regulator before you hire or pay them.
Links go to each regulator’s official website. Business Radar is not affiliated with any regulator; always rely on the regulator’s current record.
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