Kenyans are staring at massive job losses after the Registrar of Companies released the latest roster of companies recently closed and those whose closure is looming.
In a series of notices in the latest issue of the Kenya Gazette, the Deputy Registrar of Companies, Hiram Gachugi, announced that 126 companies had already been dissolved.
"Pursuant to section 897 (4) of the Companies Act, it is notified for general information that the under-mentioned companies are dissolved," the notice read in part.
The 126 companies are constituted of organisations in all sorts of sectors, including logistics companies, real estate companies, manufacturing companies and even retail.
Besides the 126, the registrar released another list of 308 companies facing imminent closure if action is not taken.
Gachugi advised that unless the companies can prove that they are still carrying out operations, they will be duly closed. The notice did not offer a timeline.
"Pursuant to section 894 (2) of the Companies Act, it is that unless it is shown that the companies listed below are carrying on business or in operation, the Registrar shall have the companies struck off the Registrar and the company will be dissolved," the notice read.
Lastly, 92 more companies were listed to be dissolved within the next three months if their proprietors did not show cause against the dissolution of the companies.
"Pursuant to section 897 (3) of the Companies Act, it is notified that at the expiration of three (3) months from the date of this gazette, the names of the undermentioned companies shall, unless cause is shown to the contrary, be struck off the register of companies and the company shall be dissolved," the notice read.
This brings the total of companies warned of closure to 392, signalling a tough end for employers and employees of said companies, even as the country grapples with unemployment.
Just two weeks ago, the registrar announced the imminent closure of 140 companies, with members of the public given three months from the date of publication to dispute the intended dissolution of the firms.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the Business Registration Service reported that a total of 2,260 firms applied to wind up their operations in the year ending June 2025.
According to the Kenyan law, companies can be deregistered for various reasons ranging from failure to file annual returns to non-compliance with statutory requirements. Some instances of closure come after long periods of inactivity, while in others, the company voluntarily apply for closure.
