Unclaimed Dividends in Kenya: How to Check and Claim from Registrars and UFAA

Updated 18 October 2026

Many Kenyans own shares they have forgotten about, often bought during a past IPO or inherited from a parent. When dividends on those shares are not collected, they do not disappear. They stay with the company’s share registrar for a while and are then handed over to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA). This guide explains when that happens, how to check whether money is waiting for you and how to claim it.

Unclaimed Dividends at a Glance

Why Dividends Go Unclaimed

• The shareholder changed phone number, bank account or address and never updated the registrar.
• The shares were bought in an IPO and the owner never opened or checked the CDS account.
• The owner died and the family did not know about the shares.
• Dividend cheques were posted to an old address and never banked.

When Dividends Move to UFAA

Section 11 of the Unclaimed Financial Assets Act says shares and their dividends are presumed abandoned when the owner has not claimed a dividend or contacted the company for more than three years, and the company does not know where the owner is at the end of that period. UFAA’s asset code list also gives three years for dividends. Returned shareholder letters count as evidence that the company has lost track of the owner. Once the asset is presumed abandoned, the company must hand it over to UFAA. The law applies backwards to when the holding company was set up, so very old dividends can still be traced.

Step 1: Check With the Registrar

If the dividends are recent, they may still be with the company. Each NSE company names its share registrar in its annual report and dividend notices. Contact the registrar with your full name, ID number and CDS account number if you have one, and ask whether any dividends are unpaid. Update your bank or M-Pesa details at the same time so future payouts reach you. Our NSE dividend calendar shows recent book closure and payment dates, which helps you know which payouts to ask about.

Step 2: Search UFAA

1. Dial *361# and follow the prompts to search by name or ID.
2. Or use the Find and Claim search on UFAA’s website.
3. Or visit any Huduma Centre, or UFAA at Pacis Centre, 2nd Floor, Slip Road, off Waiyaki Way, Westlands, Nairobi.
4. Note the holder (the company that sent the money) shown in the result. You will need a letter from that holder.

Step 3: Gather the Documents

For an original owner who is alive, UFAA asks for:

1. Form 4A (Original Owner Claim), commissioned by a lawyer.
2. Form 5 (Indemnity Agreement), commissioned by a lawyer.
3. An original letter from the holder confirming the money was sent to UFAA.
4. A copy of your national ID or passport, certified by a lawyer.
5. A copy of your KRA PIN certificate.
6. The payment details form.
7. A bank or M-Pesa statement, deposit slip or withdrawal slip that shows the account name and number.
8. An original affidavit if your names differ between the ID, KRA PIN and the holder’s records.

Claiming for a Deceased Shareholder

Beneficiaries use Form 4B with Form 5. On top of the holder’s letter, ID, KRA PIN and payment details, UFAA asks for the death certificate and a Certificate of Confirmation of Grant from the High Court, or a Certificate of Summary Administration from the Public Trustee or Deputy County Commissioner. If several people administer the estate, all of them must sign the forms. Companies claim with Form 4C, and agents acting for an owner use Form 4D.

Step 4: Submit and Follow Up

You can lodge a claim on eCitizen, at UFAA’s offices or by post to P.O. Box 28235-00200, City Square, Nairobi. UFAA says fully supported original owner claims are processed within 30 days. The Act gives UFAA 90 days to decide a claim and notify the claimant in writing. UFAA’s contacts are 020 4023000, 0706866984 and info@ufaa.go.ke.

How to Stop It Happening Again

• Keep your phone number, email and bank details current with every registrar.
• Check your CDS account statement at least once a year.
• Tell a family member where your shares and statements are kept.
• Consider other investments with simpler payouts, such as buying Treasury bills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long before unclaimed dividends go to UFAA?

Three years without a claim or contact, if the company does not know where the owner is.

How do I check for unclaimed dividends?

Ask the company’s share registrar first, then search UFAA on *361#, on its Find and Claim service or at a Huduma Centre.

Is there a deadline to claim from UFAA?

UFAA says there is no deadline.

How long does a UFAA claim take?

UFAA says complete original owner claims take about 30 days. The law allows up to 90 days for a decision.

Can I claim dividends for a dead parent?

Yes, with Form 4B, Form 5, the death certificate and a grant or summary administration certificate.