Thousands of workers could face job losses after the government moved to dissolve 88 companies.
In a gazette notice dated August 14, the Registrar of Companies announced the dissolution of the firms and struck their names off Kenya’s Register of Companies.
Deputy Registrar Hiram Gachugi said the companies were dissolved under Section 897(4) of the Companies Act, with their names removed from the register from the date the notice was published.
“It is notified for the information of the general public that the following companies have been dissolved and their names struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the date of publication of this notice,” the notice reads.
The companies listed include Quickbus Courier Limited, Rico Hardware Limited, Tabolo Limited, Trouw Nutrition Kenya Limited, Tsv Trading Limited, Verve Investments Limited, Vv Manco Kenya Limited, Walking Autism Educational Company Limited, Whitehill Holdings Limited and Wild Eden Limited.
Other firms named in the notice include Africom Communication Limited, Agrisapin Limited, Agrofield Export and Import Limited, Alliance Wing Limited, Ambaza Limited, Anna Italiano Limited and Bomh Transport and Logistics Limited.
Brittek Limited, Build Poa Supplies Limited, Cadg East Africa Limited, Decor Gallery Kenya Limited, Devjiani Enterprises Limited, Diani Marogoyo Farm Limited and Eaglemont Ventures Limited were also listed.
The Gazette notice further names Ewak Cloud Limited, Four Value (East Africa) Limited, Galole Investments Limited, Golden Bridge Fishing Limited, Harshil Black Star Limited, Hit Motors Kenya Limited and Jumeira Specialist Clinic Limited.
Others affected include Keljude Agencies Limited, Keziah Art and Boutique Limited, Kitchen Brook Hotel Limited, Kuishi Bora Maisha Safi Limited, Laustonia Limited and Luka Technology Limited.
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My Bible Distribution Centre Limited, Oraciones Limited, Orthopaedic Aids and Footwear Limited, Purushottam Enterprises Limited, Raaad Properties Limited and Sharp Tyres Limited have also been dissolved.
The Registrar also listed Shree Momai Enterprises Limited, Sokotext Limited, Sumish Delta Limited, Swab Creative Limited, Tabstel Healthcare Products Limited, Tara Designs Limited, Thika Petroleum Limited and Thunderstorm Auto Spares Limited.
Tytlis Consulting Global Limited, Vismayaa Limited, Wyndham Holdings Limited and Zaytuna Enterprises Limited were similarly listed among the companies dissolved.
In the same notice, Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited, Adsila Company Limited, Arklight Enterprises Limited, Ashdale Nominees Limited, Atari Services Kenya Limited and Bet High (K) Limited were also struck off the register.
Other companies include Birmann Infor Tech Limited, Cable Television Network Limited, Clarion Advisory Limited, Debaso Ten Thirty Investments Limited, Ecar Filtration Solutions Limited and Emma Sleep Tech Limited.
Habari Analytics Limited, Hengbao Middle East and Africa Limited, Horseback in the Wild Limited, Hudaco Trading Kenya Limited and Hunting Alpha (EPZ) Limited were also named.
The list further includes Hyde West Limited, Kapa EPZ Limited, Kerean Group Limited, KF Oasis Limited, Millbrook Trustees Limited, Oloisukut Wild Partnership Limited, Oxygene Interactive Limited, Palm Lending Limited and Plintron Kenya Limited.
How Dissolution of Companies Kenya Works
The dissolution and removal of the companies from the Register of Companies follows the publication of the notice under the Companies Act.
Gachugi said the names of the affected companies would remain struck off from the date the notice was published, formally ending their registration as companies under the register.
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The dissolution process is significant for companies that have stopped operating, remained dormant or completed the objectives for which they were established.
Under Kenya’s company law framework, dissolution is the process through which a registered company is brought to an end and removed from the register. It generally applies when a company has no outstanding creditors, while firms with debts may need to follow insolvency procedures.
Directors seeking to dissolve a company must pass a formal resolution before applying to the Companies Registry.
Directors may opt to close a company where it has ceased operations, fulfilled its objectives, remained dormant or where maintaining it has become costly because of continuing statutory filing obligations.
The process starts with reviewing the company’s articles of association to establish whether shareholder approval or a particular type of resolution is required.
The relevant documents, including the directors’ resolution and application for dissolution, are then submitted through the eCitizen platform to the Companies Registry.
The Registrar subsequently publishes a notice in the Kenya Gazette informing the public of the intended dissolution.
This stage gives creditors, employees and other interested parties an opportunity to raise objections before the company is removed from the register.
The Registrar may also liaise with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to establish whether the company has outstanding tax obligations.
Any unpaid taxes or penalties can delay the dissolution process and may have to be settled before the Registrar proceeds with the company’s removal from the register.
Notification of Intended Dissolution
Members of the public can also challenge a proposed dissolution where, for example, employees are owed money, creditors have not been paid, or the company is involved in ongoing litigation, and its dissolution could prejudice a party in the case.
If no valid objection is raised within the prescribed period, the company publishes a further notice confirming the dissolution in the Kenya Gazette.
The company can thereafter obtain confirmation of dissolution from the Business Registration Service. However, the closure does not end the need to deal with the company’s tax affairs.
The dissolved company’s PIN and registered tax obligations must be addressed with KRA. Canceling the PIN is important because leaving the entity active in the tax system could expose it to ongoing filing requirements, tax liabilities, and penalties.
The dissolution process can take about four months in straightforward cases, although it can take considerably longer where there are objections, unresolved tax matters, unpaid creditors, or other legal complications.
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