Coat of Arms, Crest, Seal and other armorial bearing

How to Register Arms in Kenya

  • Registration of Arms falls under the College of Arms Act, Cap 98, and Laws of Kenya.
  • Arms have been defined in the College of Arms Act, Cap 98 to mean any Coat of Arms, Crest, Seal or other armorial bearing.
  • An Applicant may apply for a local or foreign registration of Arms.
  • The approval to register Arms is granted by the College of Arms which constitutes the Attorney General as the Chairman, and four other members appointed by the Attorney General. The members are required to be experts in Heraldry.

Registration Procedure

REGISTRATION OF LOCAL COAT OF ARMS:

  • Applicant submits six coloured copies of the proposed Coat of Arms With blazon covering 75% of A4 paper, completes  Form CA1  and pays Kshs 10,000/=.
  • The application together with the proposed Coat of Arms and the Blazon is placed before the College of Arms for deliberation;
  • If approved, the Secretariat advises the client to pay for the Vellum Parchment for purpose of engrossment at a cost of Kshs. 26,000/=.
  • The applicant collects the Vellum Parchment for engrossment;
  • Engrossed Grant is then delivered to the Coat of Arms Registry for execution;
  • The executed Grant of Arms is required to be framed and a photo measuring 13cm by 17cm of the framed executed Grant submitted to the Registry for record purpose;
  • The Registrar publishes the executed Grant of Arms in the Kenya Gazette.

REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN COAT OF ARMS:

  • Applicant submits six coloured copies of certified copy of Grant of Arms duly granted by a proper Authority;
  • Completes Form CA2 and pays Kshs 5,000/=;
  • Application is placed before the College of Arms for consideration;
  • If approved, the Registrar publishes the executed Grant of Arms in the Kenya Gazette.