The Registrar of Companies, Joyce Koech, has directed the immediate deregistration of 177 companies and issued a warning to 44 more in a series of notices in the Kenya Gazette.
In the first notice, 31 companies were struck from the register of companies, effective February 5.
“Pursuant to section 897(4) of the Companies Act, it is notified for the information of the general public that the following companies are dissolved and their names have been struck off the Register of Companies, with effect from the date of publication of this notice,” part of the notice read.
Among the companies listed in the notice are a school for the autistic in Nairobi, a hotel and resort company, and a marine tour company.
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In a subsequent notice, a trading company was also struck from the register after going into insolvency in November 2021.
81 more companies were also listed to be dissolved from the list effective February 5 “unless cause is shown to the contrary.”
In another notice, 35 more companies including a car dealership in Nairobi and a pharmacy were notified of their immediate removal from the list effective February 7.
The final notice for dissolution was issued to 29 companies whose names were struck from the companies register, also beginning February 7.
Apart from the 177 companies deregistered this month, Koech also issued an intention to dissolve warning to 44 companies.
“Pursuant to section 897(3) of the Companies Act, the Registrar of Companies gives notice that the names of the companies set out in the Schedule hereto shall, unless cause is shown to the contrary, be struck off the Register of Companies and the companies shall be dissolved,” the notice read.
They include a gym and sports centre, several investment firms, car dealerships, and real estate companies.
This dissolution follows another directive a few weeks ago when 98 more companies were dissolved, even as unemployment looms across the country.
The reasons for the dissolution were not listed. However, several circumstances may compel the Registrar of Companies to make this drastic move. If a court grants a winding-up order, she could announce the dissolution of a company.
In another instance, a company can be dissolved if it defaults in delivering a statutory report to the registrar. Lastly, a company can be dissolved if it ceases operations.
However, an application to be removed from the register can only be made if a company has not changed its name or the type of business it conducts.
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