Investor due diligence
Know who you are dealing with in Kenya
Before you invest, lend or extend credit, we verify the Kenyan company, the people behind it, its existing obligations and, where relevant, its land and property.
What we check
The questions an investor should answer first
Kenya has public registers that answer many of the questions a careful investor asks. We run the searches, read the results together and tell you what they mean for your transaction.
Company verification
Official company search (CR12) through the Business Registration Service: registered name and number, registered office, directors and shareholders.
Ownership and people
Who stands behind the business: shareholders, directors and, where the target provides it, beneficial ownership. Background and reputation checks on key individuals.
Security and credit
Collateral registry search for existing security over movable assets, and a credit report from a bureau licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya.
Litigation and disputes
Searches for reported court decisions and known proceedings involving the company and its directors, including insolvency and debt claims.
Land and property
Official land search showing the registered proprietor and encumbrances, and a review of tenure, including the leasehold limits that apply to non-citizens.
Documents and licences
Review of the documents the target supplies, such as financial statements, tax compliance certificates, sector licences and key contracts, against what the registers show.
Packages
Scoped to the size of the decision
Every review is priced as a fixed fee, agreed in writing before work begins.
Package
Company Verification
Before a first order, distribution agreement or modest credit line.
- Official company search (CR12)
- Directors and shareholders
- Collateral registry search
- Credit bureau report
- Short written summary with flags
Fixed fee on request
Most requested
Standard Due Diligence
Joint ventures, larger credit exposures and minority investments.
- Everything in Company Verification
- Litigation and insolvency searches
- Background checks on directors and key shareholders
- Review of financial statements and tax compliance certificate
- Written report with risk rating
Fixed fee on request
Package
Enhanced Due Diligence
Acquisitions, significant equity stakes and transactions involving land.
- Everything in Standard Due Diligence
- Land and property searches and tenure review
- Sector licence and regulatory checks
- Site visit and management interview
- Detailed report and debrief call
Fixed fee on request
How it works
Four steps from enquiry to report
- 01
Tell us about the target
Share the company or property details and what decision the review supports.
- 02
Scope and fixed fee
We confirm the checks, the timetable and a fixed fee in writing before work starts.
- 03
Searches and review
We run the registry searches, obtain reports and review the documents provided.
- 04
Report and debrief
You receive a written report with the findings, the risks and the questions to put to the target.
Land and property
Foreign investors and Kenyan land
Under Article 65 of the Constitution of Kenya, a person who is not a citizen may hold land on leasehold tenure only, for no more than ninety-nine years. A company counts as a citizen for this purpose only if it is wholly owned by citizens.
Separately, the Land Control Act requires consent for dealings in agricultural land in controlled areas, and consent must be refused where the buyer is not a citizen or a private company or co-operative wholly owned by citizens. We check these points before you commit.
Read our guide to verifying land in KenyaQuestions
Frequently asked
- Who is this service for?
- Foreign investors, lenders, suppliers and distributors who are about to invest in, lend to, or extend credit to a Kenyan business, or acquire an interest in Kenyan property.
- What does a due diligence review cost?
- Each review is priced as a fixed fee agreed in writing before work begins, based on the package, the number of entities or properties and the timetable.
- Can a foreigner own land in Kenya?
- Under Article 65 of the Constitution of Kenya, a person who is not a citizen may hold land on leasehold tenure only, for a term not exceeding ninety-nine years. A company is treated as a citizen for this purpose only if it is wholly owned by citizens.
- Is this a legal opinion?
- No. Eastbridge Recoveries provides commercial due diligence: searches, verification and reporting. Where a legal opinion or legal due diligence is required, it is provided by an advocate under separate instruction.
- How long does it take?
- Company verification is typically the quickest. Standard and enhanced reviews depend on registry response times, the documents the target provides and whether a site visit is needed. The timetable is confirmed when the scope is agreed.
Further reading: Due diligence on a Kenyan company.