How to apply for a Securities Dealer License in Kenya

Procedure on How to apply for a Securities Dealer License in Kenya

To obtain a securities dealer license, the applicant has to contact the Capital Markets Authority offices.
The applicant has to make sure he or she has all the required documents that are required for this process to be successful and they can be found under the “Required Documents” section of this page or in the Application form and the Dealers Checklist.
Payment of appropriate fees should be made and that can be found under the “Fees” section of this page or in the Capital Markets Authority’s CMA Service Delivery Charter
On completion of this process, Capital Markets Authority will notify the applicant on any outstanding issues 14 working days after lodging an application and if there are no issues, the Authority will issue to the applicant a license within 25 working days.

Required Documents

Application form
Memorandum and articles of association
Certificate of incorporation
Business plan complying with the requirements of regulation 15 (1) (d) (stockbroker & dealer) of the Capital Markets Authority (Licensing Requirements) (General) Regulations.
A statement of the un-audited accounts for the period of accounting year ending not earlier than six months prior to the date of application and audited annual accounts for the preceding two years (in the case of application of licence), management accounts upto the 30th November and audited annual accounts for the preceding year (in the case of renewal of licence);
A declaration by the directors as to whether after due enquiry by them in relation to the interval between the date to which the last accounts have been made and a date not earlier than fourteen days before the date of the application
- the business of the company has, in their opinion, been satisfactorily maintained;
- there have, in their opinion, arisen any circumstances adversely affecting the companys trading or value of its assets;
- there are any contingent liabilities by reason of any guarantees given by the company or any of its subsidiaries;
- there are, since the last annual accounts, any changes in published reserves or any unusual factors affecting the profit of the company or any of its subsidiaries.
A copy of the bank guarantee to be lodged with the securities exchange or the central depository (where applicable).
A declaration by persons authorized as prescribed to accompany the application form;

Office Locations & Contacts

Capital Markets Authority

Embankment Plaza, 3rd Floor

Longonot Road, off Kilimanjaro Avenue, Upperhill

P.O Box 74800 – 00200

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254- 20- 2264000/ 2264900 / 2221910/ 2221869/ 2226225

Cell: +254 722 207767

Fax: +254- 20-342825

Email: corporate@cma.or.ke

Website: www.cma.or.ke

Location: View Map

Processing Time

Within 25 working days upon meeting all the requirements

Instructions

An application for a licence or for the renewal of a licence should be made to the Authority in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee and in the case of an application for the renewal of a licence, may be made within three months but not later than one month prior to the expiry of the licence

The Authority may require an applicant to supply such further information as it considers necessary in relation to the application.

A licence is only be granted if the applicant meets and continues to meet such minimum financial and other requirements as may be prescribed by the Authority.

The Authority may grant a licence to such conditions or restrictions as it thinks fit and the Authority may, at any time by written notice to a licence holder, vary any condition or restriction or impose further conditions or restrictions.

The Authority will not refuse to grant a licence without first giving the applicant or holder of a licence an opportunity of being heard.

Required Information

Name of company
Registered office
Date of incorporation
Address
Email
Location, address and telephone number of principal office
Location, address and telephone number of branch offices
Details of capital structure
Directors
Particulars of other directorship(s) of the directors and secretary.
Particulars of shares held by directors or secretary in other companies
Business references
Profile of the chief executive and key employees in the applicant company
List the office facilities of the applicant
State the exact nature of the activity to be carried on which obliges the applicant to apply for a license from the Capital Markets Authority.

Need for the Document

A dealer is a person who carries on the business of buying, selling, dealing, trading, underwriting or retailing of securities except exchange-traded derivative contracts, whether or not he carries on any other business.

Information which might help

Dealers Checklist

The checklists contained in this website reflect a summary of application requirements for various categories of applications that can be made with the Authority for approval to operate as a market intermediary, approved institution or issuer of securities within the Kenyan capital market. It is important to note that:

1. The checklists are derived from the statutory requirements as set out in the relevant Regulations issued under the Capital Markets Act and are intended only as a simplified guide. Applicants are advised to read and understand the statutory requirements detailed in the relevant Regulations. The Regulations are the only conclusive statement on application requirements and can be accessed in the Regulations section of this Capital Markets Authority’s website.

2. The Authority reserves the right to request for any additional information that may be deemed necessary during the course of review of an application.