Business verification in Kenya
VBC certifies businesses registered in Kenya. Verification starts from the official record: in Kenya the company register is maintained by the Business Registration Service, and the entity is identified by its company registration number, issued through eCitizen.
Kenyan registration runs through the eCitizen platform, and the KRA PIN is required for almost all commercial activity, which makes it a reliable secondary check.
Where a business is registered for tax, the KRA PIN is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why Kenyan businesses certify
Kenya is a regional hub for East African trade and technology, and registration runs through the eCitizen platform. The KRA PIN is required for almost all commercial activity, which makes it a dependable secondary check.
What VBC verifies for a Kenyan business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a Kenyan business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Certificate of incorporation or business name certificate
- CR12 showing current directors and shareholders
- KRA PIN certificate
- Business permit from the county government
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a Kenyan business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from Kenyan businesses
Can a business registered in Kenya get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in Kenya. Verification is based on records from the Business Registration Service, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a Kenyan business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a Kenyan business normally supplies: certificate of incorporation or business name certificate; cR12 showing current directors and shareholders; kRA PIN certificate; business permit from the county government. The KRA PIN is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the company registration number, issued through eCitizen used for in verification?
The company registration number, issued through eCitizen identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Business Registration Service. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a Kenyan business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in Kenya?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in Kenya remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a Kenyan business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.