How to Use Kenya's BRS Company Search Before Any Property Transaction
The Business Registration Service (BRS) is Kenya's official company registry. Any time a company is involved in a Kenya property transaction — as buyer, seller, developer, or lender — a BRS search is part of the due diligence checklist.
It takes less than 5 minutes and is free to access.
When BRS Search Is Required
Buying from a developer (off-plan or completed development): Confirm the developer company exists and is active. Confirm the directors are who they say they are. Note when the company was registered (a 2-month-old company has no track record).
Buying from a company (any company selling property it owns): Confirm the company exists. Confirm who the current directors are. Confirm the company has not been struck off or dissolved.
Using an agent's company: Confirm the agency is a registered company.
Checking company beneficial ownership: For AML/CFT due diligence: run BRS to get a starting point on the company structure.
How to Run the Search
Step 1: Visit bizsearch.co.ke
This is the BRS public search portal. No account is required. It is free.
Step 2: Type the company name in the search box.
Use the exact name or a close approximation. The search returns companies with matching names.
Step 3: Review the results.
For each matching company, the portal shows:
Company name. Registration number. Company type (Private Limited Company, Public Limited Company, etc.). Registration date. Status (Active, Struck Off, Under Investigation, etc.). Registered office address. Directors (current and historical).
Step 4: Check the key items.
Status: Active is what you want. "Struck off" means the company has been removed from the register — it has no legal existence and cannot validly sell property.
Registration date: How long has this company been operating? A company incorporated last month is a red flag for a developer.
Directors: Do the names match the people you are dealing with? A director who is no longer on the register may no longer have authority to sign.
What BRS Does NOT Show
Financial information: Revenue, profit, liabilities, bank accounts. BRS shows registration information, not financial position.
Litigation: There is no litigation search on BRS. Use the court process search for that.
Beneficial ownership (fully): BRS shows registered directors and shareholders. For complex structures with nominees, BRS alone may not reveal the true beneficial owner.
Current financial distress: A company can be "Active" on BRS while in financial difficulty. The active status just means it has not been struck off.
For Diaspora Buyers
BRS search can be done from anywhere in the world at bizsearch.co.ke. It takes 5 minutes and is free.
For any Kenya developer you are considering buying from while abroad, a BRS search is the minimum baseline check that should happen before you engage further.
This article is for general information only. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified Kenya advocate before any property transaction involving a company.
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