Kenya - Obtain Liquor License

The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Procedure

Apply in Person

Start by visiting the County Councils Business Licensing Offices to make your application for the liquor license. You may also visit a Huduma centre so as to initiate the application process.
Depending on the nature or type of your application, you will be given one of the following application forms to complete.
- Form 1: Application for The Grant or Renewal of an Alcoholic Retail Drinks Licence page 46 to 47
- Form 2: Application for The Grant or Renewal of a Licence to Manufacture or Produce an alcoholic drink , page 47
- Form 3: Application for The Grant or Renewal of a Licence to import or expert an alcoholic drink , page 48 to 49
You should fill the required information and attach the documents to the application form. These include :-

(a). Registered Business name

(b). Physical address.

(c). Business identification number,

(d). Copy of certificate of incorporation,

(e). National ID/Asylum Pass/ Passport No/ Alien ID
After submission of the application form, a licensing officer will visit your business premises to carry out inspections, so as to determine if your premise is suitable for the nature of the license you are applying for.
The information obtained by the inspection visit, will be table down for deliberation by the directorate so as to determine also determine the fees to charge for the license and approval of the license.
- Where the directorate after considering the application will indicate in writing whether it objects to the grant of the license applied for.
- Where the directorate has no objection to the application, it shall grant a license to the applicant upon payment of the prescribed fee.
Pay the prescribed application fee. The fee varies depending on the nature of license you want to apply for. The fees are as follows.

(i). General retail alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00

(ii). General retail alcoholic drink licence (off Licence), Ksh. 24,000.00

(iii). Brewer’s alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000,000.00

(iv). Wholesale alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00

(v). Import alcoholic drink licence (wholesale) , Ksh. 1,000,000.00

(vi). Bottler's alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 250,000.00

(vii). Distributor alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00

(viii). Hotel alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00

(ix). Restaurant alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 30,000.00

(x). Club alcoholic drink licence (members' club) , Ksh. 100,000.00

(xi). Supermarket and franchised retail stores alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 80,000.00

(xii). Theatre alcoholic drink licence. , Ksh. 15,000.00

(xiii). Traveller's alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 30,000.00

(xiv). Railway restaurant car alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 5,000.00

(xv). Steamship alcoholic drink licence, , Ksh. 30,000.00

(xvi). Temporary or occasional alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000.00

(xvii). For transferring an alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000.00

(xviii). For removing an alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000.00
After making the payments, the liquor license signed and you will be advised to collect it from the dispatch office.
Once you have acquired the license , display it on your business premises as the law requires

Required Documents

Identification card.
PIN certificate
Health certificate (Department of Health Services clearance)
Fire clearance.
NACADA certificate
KEBS certificate

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Internal Trade - Head Office
Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED)
Social Security House,
Block A, 17th, 23rd Floor
P.O. Box 30418-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 20-2731531,
Fax: +254 20-2731511 Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Website: Link

National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse(NACADA) -Head Office
NSSF Building, Block A, Eastern Wing 18th Floor
P.O. Box 10774 00100 NAIROBI
Telephone: +254 (020) 2721997/93
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: link

E-Citizen : Business registration services

Business Registration Desk - Huduma Center
Huduma Center Locations

Eligibility

A persons intending to manufacture or otherwise produce any alcoholic drink.
A persons intending to operate an establishment for the sale of an alcoholic drink.
A persons intending to import or export any alcoholic drink.

Fees

General retail alcoholic drink licence: (a). In respect of premises situate within a City or a municipality Ksh 50,000 for 12 months license and Ksh 30,000 for a six month license.; (b). In respect of premises situate within urban areas other than city and municipality Ksh 30,000 for 12 months license and Ksh 18,000 for a six month license.; (c). In respect of premises situate elsewhere than in a city, municipality and urban areas Ksh 15,000 for 12 months license and Ksh 9,000 for a six month license.

Validity

The license is valid for one year and is renewed thereafter.

Documents to Use

Form 1: Application for The Grant or Renewal of an Alcoholic Retail Drinks Licence page 46 to 47
Form 2: Application for The Grant or Renewal of a Licence to Manufacture or Produce an alcoholic drink , page 47
Form 3: Application for The Grant or Renewal of a Licence to import or expert an alcoholic drink , page 48 to 49

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Process takes 30 working days

Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

Name of applicant
Physical and postal address of applicant
Name by which the premises is known
Type of license applied for
Type of business (Sole proprietorship / Partnership/Limited Liability Company)
Business registration number.

Need for the Document

No person shall keep for sale, offer for sale or sell liquor except under the authority of a license or permit to sell liquor or under the authority of a manufacturer’s license.
No person shall canvass for, receive or solicit orders for the sale of liquor unless the person is the holder of a license or permit to sell liquor or unless the person is the holder of a license to represent a manufacturer.

Information which might help

Where an applicant fails to submit all documents or information required under these Regulations, the District Committee may reject the application and inform the applicant, in writing, of the rejection.
Where the District Committee rejects an application due to incomplete or insufficient information, the rejection shall not, bar the applicant from resubmitting the application.
Upon the completion of the application process, the District Committee shall, if it is satisfied that the applicant has complied with the requirements under these Regulations, issue a licence to the applicant.
A licensee shall notify the District Committee of his intention to change the name or contact address he filed with the District Committee at least thirty days before effecting such change.
A licensee shall make an application for the renewal of his licence in accordance with the procedure set out in the licensing regulation Act
The District Committee may inspect or investigate matters relating to the quality of service, of a licensee from time to time to ensure compliance or carry out any other visits or inspections pursuant to the Act.

External Links

Others

Type of Licence and fees

General retail alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00
General retail alcoholic drink licence (off Licence) , Ksh. 24,000.00
Brewer’s alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000,000.00
Wholesale alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00
Import alcoholic drink licence (wholesale) , Ksh. 1,000,000.00
Bottler's alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 250,000.00
Distributor alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00
Hotel alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 50,000.00
Restaurant alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 30,000.00
Club alcoholic drink licence (members' club) , Ksh. 100,000.00
Supermarket and franchised retail stores alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 80,000.00
Theatre alcoholic drink licence. , Ksh. 15,000.00
Traveller's alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 30,000.00
Railway restaurant car alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 5,000.00
Steamship alcoholic drink licence, , Ksh. 30,000.00
Temporary or occasional alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000.00
For transferring an alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000.00
For removing an alcoholic drink licence , Ksh. 1,000.00