Updated 10 November 2026
Businesses close for many reasons: the project ended, partners went separate ways, or the company was never really used. Simply walking away is risky, because a registered company can keep accumulating filing obligations and penalties. If you want to close a company in Kenya properly, the Business Registration Service (BRS) offers three main routes: dissolution of a company that has finished its business, cessation of a business name, and liquidation where assets must be realised and creditors paid. This guide compares them using BRS’s published fees and timelines.
Source: BRS Fee Schedule – Companies Registry, Company Voluntary Liquidation and Official Receiver fees, read on 8 November 2026. Confirm on eCitizen and take professional advice for companies with debts, staff or assets.
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Close a company in Kenya: key facts
| Route | BRS fee | Filing | Document / timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissolution of a company | KSh 4,000 | Company resolution plus CR 18 and CR 19 | Letter of confirmation, 90 days |
| Cessation of a business name | KSh 800, subject to penalties | BN 6 | Letter of confirmation, 1 day |
| Declaration of solvency or insolvency (LLP) | KSh 2,000 | LLP 10 | Reflected on records, immediately |
| Members’ voluntary liquidation (Official Receiver) | KSh 100,000 on the first KSh 1m, then 10% of the balance | Forms 32A, 32B, 32 | Within 1 year of appointment |
| Creditors’ voluntary liquidation (Official Receiver) | KSh 150,000 on the first KSh 1m, then 10% of the balance | Forms 32A, 32B | – |
Choosing how to close a company in Kenya
- A company with no debts, no assets and no ongoing business: dissolution through the Registrar is the simplest route.
- A sole proprietorship or partnership registered as a business name: file a cessation of the business name. A business name is not a company.
- A company with assets to sell and creditors to pay: voluntary liquidation, either members’ (solvent) or creditors’ (insolvent).
- A company that cannot pay its debts may also face liquidation by court, or may consider administration or a company voluntary arrangement. Take professional advice.
Dissolution: the simplest way to close a company in Kenya
The BRS companies fee schedule lists dissolution of companies at KSh 4,000. You file a company resolution together with forms CR 18 and CR 19. The document issued is a letter of confirmation, and the listed timeline is 90 days. The process runs on eCitizen, with payment by mobile money or card.
Before filing, tidy up. Settle any debts, close the company bank account after final transactions, and bring outstanding statutory returns up to date. Make sure the directors and shareholders have passed the resolution correctly. The 90-day timeline allows for the Registrar’s process, so do not assume the company is closed until you receive the confirmation.
Cessation of a business name
If you registered a business name rather than a limited company, BRS lists cessation of business name at KSh 800, subject to penalties, filed on form BN 6. A letter of confirmation is issued in 1 day. “Subject to penalties” means outstanding late fees for the business name may be added. Check your record on eCitizen first.
Voluntary liquidation through the Official Receiver
Where a company has assets and creditors, liquidation is the orderly way to close it. When the Official Receiver is appointed liquidator under a members’ or creditors’ resolution, BRS says it will:
- require payment of statutory fees;
- gazette the appointment of a liquidator;
- take up the affairs of the company;
- convene a creditors’ meeting;
- realise the company’s assets;
- declare dividends and distribute the realised assets;
- remit surplus funds to the shareholders;
- apply for the company’s deregistration.
The Official Receiver’s fee scale is KSh 100,000 on the first KSh 1,000,000, then 10% on the balance for a members’ voluntary liquidation, with a timeline of within one year of appointment. For a creditors’ voluntary liquidation it is KSh 150,000 on the first KSh 1,000,000, then 10% on the balance. Private licensed insolvency practitioners can also act as liquidators. Their fees are agreed separately.
Before you close a company in Kenya: checklist
- Confirm the company’s details with a fresh CR12 search.
- Pay or settle all creditors, or choose liquidation if you cannot.
- Resolve staff matters: final dues, certificates of service and statutory deductions.
- Close or deregister tax obligations with KRA as their procedures require.
- Cancel licences, permits and supplier registrations held in the company’s name.
- Keep the company’s books and records safely after closure.
Common mistakes
- Abandoning a company instead of closing it. The Registrar can strike off non-compliant companies, but that is not the same as an orderly closure. See our report on the Registrar dissolving firms.
- Using dissolution for a company that still owes money.
- Confusing a business name with a company and filing the wrong form.
- Distributing assets to shareholders before creditors are paid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to close a company in Kenya?
The BRS fee for dissolution of a company is KSh 4,000, filed with a resolution and forms CR 18 and CR 19.
How long does company dissolution take?
BRS lists 90 days, ending with a letter of confirmation.
How do I close a business name?
File a cessation on form BN 6. The fee is KSh 800, subject to penalties, and confirmation takes 1 day.
What does the Official Receiver charge for voluntary liquidation?
For a members’ voluntary liquidation, KSh 100,000 on the first KSh 1m, then 10% of the balance. For a creditors’ voluntary liquidation, KSh 150,000 on the first KSh 1m, then 10%.
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