How to Register a Construction Company in Kenya

1. Why NCA registration matters

The National Construction Authority Act, 2011 requires every contractor operating in Kenya to be registered with the NCA before undertaking construction work. Unregistered contractors face fines of up to KES 500,000 and cannot legally bid for public or private tenders. Registration is also what county governments and developers check first when awarding contracts.

2. Contractor categories (NCA 1 – NCA 8)

Contractors are registered in one of eight categories based on financial capacity, experience, and technical staff. NCA 1 handles unlimited-value works; NCA 8 is the entry-level tier for small-scale projects.

• NCA 1 – Unlimited contract value
• NCA 2 – Up to KES 500 million
• NCA 3 – Up to KES 300 million
• NCA 4 – Up to KES 200 million
• NCA 5 – Up to KES 100 million
• NCA 6 – Up to KES 50 million
• NCA 7 – Up to KES 20 million
• NCA 8 – Up to KES 10 million

Categories exist across building works, roadworks, water works, electrical, mechanical, and specialist trades. Confirm current thresholds with NCA before applying.

3. Required documents

• Certificate of Incorporation (CR12) from the Business Registration Service
• KRA PIN certificate and valid Tax Compliance Certificate
• Company Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Directors' national IDs, KRA PINs, and passport photos
• Audited accounts for the last 2 years (higher categories)
• Professional certificates and CVs for technical staff (Engineer / Architect / QS)
• Bank reference letter and evidence of working capital
• Portfolio of past projects with references (for categories NCA 1–6)

4. Step-by-step application process

1. Step 1 — Register a limited company with the Business Registration Service and obtain your KRA PIN.
2. Step 2 — Create an account on the NCA online portal (portal.nca.go.ke).
3. Step 3 — Complete the contractor registration form, selecting your trade and target category.
4. Step 4 — Upload all required documents and pay the application fee via the portal.
5. Step 5 — Attend the NCA evaluation interview (higher categories only).
6. Step 6 — Receive the registration certificate — typically 30–60 working days after a complete submission.
7. Step 7 — Renew annually and remit the 0.5% construction levy on every project above KES 5 million.

5. Fees you should budget for

Application fees range from roughly KES 5,000 (NCA 8) to KES 100,000+ (NCA 1) depending on category and trade. Add annual renewal fees, the 0.5% NCA levy per project, county business permits, and NEMA / OSH compliance costs. Always confirm current figures on the official NCA fee schedule before budgeting.

6. Common pitfalls

• Applying for a higher category than your audited turnover supports — NCA will downgrade.
• Expired tax compliance certificates at submission time.
• Missing professional indemnity for the resident engineer / architect.
• Forgetting to register site works under Section 24 before starting construction.
• Ignoring the annual renewal deadline — lapsed registrations disqualify you from tenders.

7. Need help navigating it?

TED'S & RICK'S Construction is an NCA-registered contractor based in Kitale. We advise partners, developers, and joint-venture contractors on registration strategy, document preparation, and category upgrades across Western Kenya and the Rift Valley.