CR12 Kenya: What It Is and How to Get It for Government Tenders (2026 Guide)

The CR12 — officially the Certificate of Directors and Shareholders — is issued by the Registrar of Companies (Business Registration Service, BRS) and lists all current directors and shareholders of a registered company. It is mandatory for virtually every government tender in Kenya above KES 50,000. Procurement committees use it to verify beneficial ownership, check for director blacklisting, and confirm that the company bidding is not a front for a competing bidder or a company debarred from government procurement.

You apply for a CR12 on the eCitizen portal at ecitizen.go.ke under the Business Registration Service section. The process: log in or create an account, select Business Registration Service, choose 'Company Search', search your company by name or registration number, and submit a CR12 application. The fee is KES 600 for online processing. Processing typically takes 3-5 working days. A physical visit to Sheria House (Nairobi) or the nearest BRS regional office is possible but slower.

The CR12 does not have a fixed expiry date — technically it is valid as long as the information is accurate. However, procurement officers typically require a CR12 issued within the last 3-6 months to ensure it reflects current ownership. If your company has had director or shareholder changes, you must update your records at BRS before obtaining a new CR12. Changes are made via Form CR8 (change of directors) or Form CR19 (transfer of shares), each requiring a notarised resolution and payment of prescribed fees.

Common CR12-related disqualifications in government tenders: (1) CR12 older than 6 months — many tender documents specify 'recent' CR12; (2) Director names differ from other documents — spelling variations (e.g., 'Mwangi' vs 'Mwangi-Kamau') trigger compliance queries; (3) Company address on CR12 differs from business permit — BRS registered address versus county business permit address mismatch; (4) A director on the CR12 is the same person as a director in a competing bid — this triggers a conflict of interest investigation.

If you are setting up a new company to bid on government tenders, your CR12 will show a company incorporation date of the current year, which may concern procurement officers evaluating company experience. To manage this: (1) ensure your technical team's CVs demonstrate the relevant years of experience separately from the company age; (2) reference the director's personal track record and previous company engagements; (3) start with smaller-value tenders where company age is less scrutinised. TenderAI filters tenders by minimum experience requirements — helping you find contracts where a newly registered company can still qualify.