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Promote:Kenya

Invest in Kenya

A short guide for companies expanding into Kenya: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.

1. Kenya at a glance

The currency is the Kenyan shilling.

Source: Embassy of Kenya in Paris, Kenya at a Glance⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026

2. Before you set up

The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.

3. Steps to set up

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Setting up in Kenya

  1. Check foreign ownership restrictions for the proposed sector before committing capital.Invest Kenya; relevant sector regulatorOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Invest Kenya, investor FAQs page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026

  2. Register a Kenyan company or foreign branch through the Business Registration Service.Business Registration ServicePrivate limited company: KSh 10,650; foreign company: KSh 7,550.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Business Registration Service, companies registry fee schedule⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026

  3. Obtain entity and individual tax PINs and the applicable tax registrations.Kenya Revenue AuthorityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Kenya Revenue Authority, foreign investor PIN registration⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026

  4. Arrange a corporate bank account using the incorporation and tax documents the selected bank requires.Licensed commercial bank; Invest Kenya can facilitateOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Invest Kenya, Investors guide to Kenya, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026

Show 8 more set-up steps
  1. Check foreign exchange rules for dividends and capital transfers with the Central Bank of Kenya and your bank.Central Bank of KenyaOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Central Bank of Kenya, forex page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026

  2. Seek an investment certificate, which the Act grants to applicants who meet its minimum investment.Kenya Investment AuthorityMinimum investment as of October 15, 2026: US$100,000 for a foreign investor; KSh 1,000,000 for a local investor.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Investment Promotion Act, Chapter 485B, revised edition 2014⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2014

  3. Complete property checks and obtain an appropriate lease, because noncitizen interests cannot exceed the constitutional leasehold limit.Land registries; relevant landowner and authoritiesArticle 65 maximum: 99-year noncitizen leasehold.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Article 65⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2010

  4. Obtain the environmental approval the project requires before implementation.National Environment Management AuthorityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: National Environment Management Authority, impact assessment page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026

  5. Obtain applicable county business permissions and sector licenses before operating.County government; relevant sector regulatorOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Invest Kenya, Investors guide to Kenya, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026

  6. Obtain the appropriate immigration permission before the foreign individual starts the business activity.Directorate of Immigration ServicesClass G: KSh 20,000 processing and KSh 250,000 annual issuance; East African Community member-state applicants listed as gratis.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Directorate of Immigration Services, Class G permit page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026

  7. Where entering a zone program, obtain the zone license and confirm the tax conditions for the enterprise.Special Economic Zones Authority; Export Processing Zones AuthorityOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Special Economic Zones Authority, fiscal incentives page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026

  8. Arrange employer registrations and payroll compliance, including the applicable social security and health contributions.Employer; relevant statutory bodiesOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Invest Kenya, Investors guide to Kenya, 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026

4. Organizations that help investors

Start with Invest Kenya and KRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Investment and business setup

Show 5 more organizations

Customs and tax

Show 1 more organization

Chambers and industry associations

Show 2 more organizations

5. Worth knowing

Show 3 more

6. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare Kenya with other countriesSet Kenya beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

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Promote:Kenya is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 2, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.