Thousands of Kenyans could lose their jobs

Thousands of Kenyans could lose their jobs after the government announced plans to close nearly 300 businesses within the next three months.

In a published notice, the registrar stated that 293 companies would be removed from the register starting in May of this year. The registrar recently announced that over 200 firms have already been removed, while about 100 more—bringing the total to close to 300—have been given a three-month period to file objections. This follows similar actions in 2025, when hundreds of businesses were targeted for missing annual reports or inactivity. The move is intended to clean up the register but is resulting in massive job losses in sectors such as trade, construction, and services. The closures are exacerbating unemployment, particularly among young people, as many companies have already eliminated redundant positions. The Federation of Kenya Employers warns of a fragile employment situation since the COVID-19 crisis. By the end of 2025, over 150 more companies were at risk. According to the registrar, these companies will cease operations in the country unless they provide a justification within three months as to why they should remain registered. Registrar of Companies Reveals Plans to Shut Down Nearly 300 Companies in 3 Months, kenyabs.co.ke