🇰🇪 BRS eCitizen Pre-Screening Guide

Business name checklist & pre-screen

A rejected name search costs money and costs you 1 to 3 days in waiting. Test your proposed name against Kenya Business Registration Service (BRS) criteria before submitting.

Test your proposed business name:

Type a name above to instantly detect restricted Kenyan statutory keywords ("Kenya", "National", "Bank", "Authority", etc.).

Statutory Pre-Screen Checklist 0 of 5 checked

It is not identical or near-identical to a name already registered BRS rejects names that are the same as, or confusingly close to, an existing registered business or company name. Run an official name search on eCitizen before you fall in love with a name. It does not use a restricted word without regulator approval Words like "Chartered", "Authority", "Bank", "Sacco", "Cooperative", "Kenya", "National", "Royal", or "Trust" typically need a supporting letter from the relevant regulator or ministerial approval before BRS will allow them. It does not imply a government or official connection it does not have Names suggesting affiliation with national government, county governments, or official state corporations are heavily scrutinised and rejected unless genuine authorization exists. It is not offensive, deceptive, or misleading about what the business does A name that misrepresents the actual nature of the business (e.g. calling an IT shop "Nairobi Medical Diagnostics"), or that contains offensive language, is refused at the registrar's discretion. You have 2 to 3 distinct backup names prepared If your first choice is rejected during official review, having pre-vetted alternatives ready avoids a second round trip to eCitizen and delays in registration.

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Official BRS Verification Requirement: This checklist provides pre-screening guidance based on the Kenya Companies Act and Business Registration Service regulations. An official name search reservation on eCitizen (KES 250 for Business Names, KES 650 for Limited Companies) remains mandatory before actual registration.

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