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Company Registration (Form CR1)

Form CR1

Fill Kenya's Form CR1 online — the application to register a company. Prepare it cleanly, then finish on eCitizen.

Private by design — nothing you type is stored on our servers. Prepare it here, then complete the filing on eCitizen.

Details
First directors, secretary & authorised signatory
person 1
Share classes
class 1
Lodged by & signature

The printed form leaves a line for your signature. You can also e-sign the PDF with our Sign a PDF tool.

Live preview · Form CR1
FORM CR1
APPLICATION TO REGISTER COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES OR GUARANTEE OR IS UNLIMITED
[Section 13 of the Companies Act, 2015]

1. The name of the company is   limited.

2. The company is a private company.

3. The company will adopt the model articles of association appropriate to the company.

4. The registered office of the company is or will be located at:

 

5. The first directors, secretary and authorised signatory of the company:
No.NameAddressID / passport no.NationalityTel & emailConsent (director/secretary)
1      

(Attach copies of national I.D, KRA PIN and passport photograph.)

6. The objects (if any) for which the company is established are as follows:

 

7. The liability of the members is limited by shares.

8. The share capital of the company is KShs  , divided into   shares of KShs   each.

No.Class of sharesNominal valueNumber of sharesTotal number
1    

9. The amount to be unpaid (if any) on each share is KShs  .

Date of this application:  

This application is lodged by (name): 
Address of the person lodging: 
Capacity:Subscriber
Signature: 
Notes

Note: Unless the articles specifically restrict the objects of the company, its objects are unrestricted.

Add the issuing country, place and date of issue if a passport number is provided.

Complete your filing on eCitizen (ecitizen.go.ke).
How to file Form CR1
  1. 1. Prepare it here — fill every field, add each person, review the preview.
  2. 2. Download the PDF for your records (and sign it if you need a wet or e-signature).
  3. 3. Log in to eCitizen (BRS) and enter or upload the same details to file with the Registrar.

LeadAfrik helps you prepare the form quickly and correctly — the official filing is completed on eCitizen. Your details are never stored on our servers.

Form CR1 — the application to register your company in Kenya

Form CR1 is the core application to register a new company under section 13 of the Companies Act, 2015. It captures the company's reserved name, whether it is private or public, its registered office, the first directors and secretary, the objects, and the share capital. It is the document that brings the company into existence.

Registration happens on eCitizen through the Business Registration Service (BRS): you reserve the name, then complete CR1 alongside the memorandum (CR2), beneficial ownership (BOF1) and the directors' details. This tool lets you prepare CR1 cleanly — get every field right — before you key it into eCitizen, and keep a copy for your records.

The commonest hold-ups are a name that isn't reserved, an incomplete directors' table (each director needs an ID/passport, KRA PIN and a passport photo attached), and share-capital figures that don't reconcile. Fill it carefully here first and the eCitizen step goes fast.

What Form CR1 captures

  • ◆The company's reserved name, and whether it is private or public
  • ◆The registered office address
  • ◆The first directors, secretary and authorised signatory (with ID, nationality, consent)
  • ◆The objects of the company (unrestricted unless the articles say otherwise)
  • ◆The share capital, its division into shares, and the share classes
  • ◆Who is lodging the application (subscriber or agent)

Common mistakes to avoid

  • ✕Using a name that hasn't been reserved first
  • ✕An incomplete directors' table — each needs ID/passport, KRA PIN and a passport photo attached
  • ✕Share numbers that don't reconcile with the memorandum (CR2)
  • ✕Leaving the directors' consent or the lodging capacity blank

Questions

Do I file CR1 on eCitizen?

Yes. Company registration in Kenya is done online via eCitizen (BRS). This tool prepares CR1 so your details are correct and complete; you then enter or upload them on eCitizen to file.

What do I attach for each director?

A copy of the national ID (or passport, with country, place and date of issue), the KRA PIN, and a passport photograph.

Private or public company?

Most SMEs register as a private company limited by shares. A public company can offer shares to the public and carries more requirements. Choose private unless you specifically need public.

What are the company's “objects”?

The activities the company is set up to do. Under the Companies Act, unless the articles restrict them, a company's objects are unrestricted — many founders keep them broad.

How much share capital do I need?

There is no statutory minimum for a private company; many start with a modest nominal capital — for example KES 100,000 divided into 1,000 shares of KES 100. Very large nominal capital can attract higher fees.

The rest of the incorporation suite
All forms →Form CR2Form CR8Form BOF1

Preparing your form is free. Downloading a clean PDF without the small watermark is KES 200 in Kenya (a one-off). This tool prepares the official form; it is not the eCitizen filing and is not legal advice — for anything unusual, take advice.