Kenya’s Registrar of Companies has issued a notice warning 265 businesses that they face deregistration if they fail to meet statutory obligations within three months, the government said on Tuesday.
In Gazette Notice No. 1660, dated February 3, 2026, and published on February 6, Registrar Damaris Lukwo invoked Section 894(3) of the Companies Act to list the affected entities. The notice provides a 90-day period for companies, their directors, shareholders, creditors, or any other interested party to “show cause” why their firms should not be struck off the official register. The statutory deadline expires in early May 2026.
“The names of the companies specified hereunder shall be struck off from the Register of Companies at the expiry of three months from the date of publication of this Notice,” the notice read. Interested parties are invited to provide evidence that the companies are operational, compliant, or have legitimate reasons to remain registered, including ongoing litigation or ownership of assets.
The move forms part of an ongoing effort by the Registrar to maintain an accurate and up-to-date business register, ensuring compliance with annual filings, tax obligations, and corporate governance standards. Firms that fail to submit pending annual returns, pay outstanding fees or penalties, or provide evidence of ongoing business operations risk automatic removal from the registry.
Broad range of affected sectors
More Read
The 265 companies span multiple sectors, highlighting a wide-reaching corporate register clean-up. Affected businesses include advertising and consultancy firms such as Adplan Advertising and Adr Consulting Africa; construction companies including Adoyo Construction and Aduen Construction; agricultural enterprises like Adu Agri-Industries; and travel and transport services such as Adoro Tours and Travel and Advak Cabs and Tours.
Marketing and media entities listed include Adplus Technologies, Adshell Communications, and Adsmarketing Limited, while professional services are represented by Adroit Architecture, Advanta Consultants Kenya, and Adrian and Associates. Technology companies include Adream Elite Technologies, Advadata Systems, and Advanced Cyber Technologies Africa.
Manufacturing and trade companies on the list include Adrine Textile Company, Advanced Auto Spares, and Adva Textiles. Health and pharmaceutical companies, as well as security firms such as Advanced Security Solutions and Adullam Security Services, are also earmarked for potential dissolution.
More Read
Registrar Lukwo urged companies and stakeholders to take the notice seriously, noting that the statutory period represents the final opportunity to regularize their affairs.
Legal and operational implications
Once removed from the official register, a company loses its legal status, including the right to enter contracts, own property, or carry on business operations. Deregistration can also affect creditors, investors, and employees associated with the company.
Business law experts said such mass clean-ups are common in Kenya and other jurisdictions to ensure that only compliant, operational entities remain on the official register. Maintaining an accurate register is critical for transparency, investor confidence, and enforcement of corporate obligations.
“This is a routine but necessary measure to ensure that dormant or non-compliant companies do not clutter the register,” said a Nairobi-based corporate lawyer. “Companies that are still operational should act promptly to submit filings and settle any outstanding dues.”
Next steps for affected companies
More Read
Companies wishing to avoid dissolution must submit pending annual returns, pay any outstanding penalties or fees, and demonstrate that they continue to carry on business or have a valid reason to remain on the register. In cases where litigation or asset ownership justifies continued registration, appropriate documentation should be submitted within the 90-day period.
The Registrar’s notice serves as a formal and public declaration of the government’s intent, signaling transparency and adherence to legal requirements under the Companies Act.
Failure to act will result in automatic removal of the company’s name from the official register, effectively terminating its legal existence and ability to operate in Kenya.
