The State Law Office has been stripped of the powers to register companies after Attorney-General Githu Muigai published a list of directors to run the Business Registration Service Board on Monday.

This means that the Business Registration Service Act, which removes the function of business registration from The State Law office, will now come into effect with the appointment of the board.

It is envisaged that the new authority will fast-track the registration of businesses, whose delay has in the past been blamed for low foreign investments in Kenya.

Ms Carol Musyoka has been appointed to head the board and will work with Michael Mugasa, Shallah Sheikh, Irene Wamakau and Ben Gaithuma as directors for three years.

The service will be headed by the registrar-general who will be responsible for the overall operations of the entity and its staff.

It will have offices in Nairobi but will be spread across the country, which will make registration even more efficient.

Services such as incorporation of companies, registration of business names and partnerships will be devolved to promote local business ideas/legal entities, cut the costs of registration and operations which are currently being offered in Nairobi only.

“The government has established an independent body to register companies, which will be spread across the counties. This means that you do not have to come to Nairobi to register a company,” said Ms Silvana Wanjiru, a certified public secretary with Capita Registrars.

The new arm will take over functions of the State Law Office, which was semi-autonomous and had been blamed for inefficiencies and delays, hampering effective service delivery.

The office has also been blamed for hiding files, opening a chance for companies engaging in illegal trade to operate.

“I do not think any regime can guard against shale companies but I hope the new body will be more transparent. We can put the information online just like the UK,” said Ms Wanjiru.

In September, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Act alongside six new legislations set to transform Kenya’s business landscape and thrust the country’s competitiveness.