The government plans to shut down over 300 companies by April 2026 Registrar of Companies issued the notice on January 2, 2026
Thousands of Kenyans could soon be left without jobs after the government announced plans to shut down more than 300 companies across the country within the next three months.
The move was revealed in a Kenya Gazette notice dated January 2, 2026, issued by the Registrar of Companies, Damaris Lukwo, who said the affected firms will be removed from the official register starting April 2026.
According to the notice, the companies marked for dissolution operate in many sectors of the economy.
They include firms involved in consultancy, private security, media and publishing, construction, transport and supply services. Others offer education, electrical works, insurance, internet services, milling, branding, cleaning, and management services.
The planned closures raise fears of job losses, especially for workers employed in small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Registrar has given a 90-day window for company owners, creditors, or any affected parties to raise objections and explain why the firms should not be struck off.
“Pursuant to Section 894 (3) of the Companies Act, the Registrar of Companies gives notice that the names of the companies specified hereunder shall be struck off from the Register of Companies,” the notice stated.
It added that the firms will be removed after three months unless valid reasons are provided.
The move is part of an ongoing government effort to clean up company records and enforce compliance with the law.
Authorities are targeting firms that have failed to meet legal requirements, especially those that do not file annual returns or are inactive.
Under Kenyan law, a company can stop operating either through voluntary dissolution or by being struck off by the Registrar of Companies, who works under the Business Registration Services (BRS).
BRS is a state agency operating under the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice, guided by the Companies Act of 2015.
In some cases, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) may block a company’s dissolution if there is an ongoing tax dispute.
