How to apply for a Liquor License in Kenya

The Liquor Licensing Act in Kenya comprehensively explains the requirements that a business person ought to fulfil to obtain their permit. However, different regions have imposed further laws for the sale of alcohol, making it even harder to meet such stringent conditions. Therefore, there is always intense competition that will ordinarily make the entire process of obtaining a liquor licence in Kenya incredibly cumbersome. When you are trying to figure out the most appropriate liquor licence for your business, you ought to consider certain paramount factors. What are the different types of liquor licences in Kenya? This is a Procedure on How to apply for a Liquor License in Kenya

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.
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

47 counties of Kenya

NACADA
HEADQUARTERS CONTACTS
NSSF Building 18th Floor,
Eastern Wing, Block A
P.O. Box 10774 – 00100 Nairobi
Phone: +254 202721997 .
E-mail: info@nacada.go.ke
Website :NACADA

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

Processing Time

Process takes 30 working days

Required Information – Liquor License in Kenya

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 – Liquor License in Kenya

Others – Liquor License in Kenya

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

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) is alarmed by the rising cases of school unrest as reported in the recent past. Just three weeks after the re-opening of schools following their closure after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in March last year, there have been heightened cases of indiscipline among Primary and Secondary school students and majority of these cases are attributed to drug abuse.
Over the years, the Authority has conducted surveys in Primary and Secondary schools that has unearthed the magnitude of drug abuse in these learning institutions. In a national survey carried out in June 2018 on the “Status of Drugs and Substance Abuse among Primary School Pupils in Kenya”, it was found that 20.2% of primary school pupils have ever used at least one drug or substance of abuse in their lifetime. The survey shows 16.9% of primary school pupils are currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse. It further reveals that 3.2% of primary school pupils are currently using tobacco, 2.6% are currently using alcohol and 2.3% are currently using miraa/ muguka.
The common sources of drugs and substance of abuse mentioned by students include kiosks or shops near school (28.6%); bar near school (25.7%); friends (19.3%); bought from other students (13.7%); and school workers (13.6%).
This data points to the need for urgent concerted effort aimed at preventing additional statistics among school-going children as one of the ways through which to curb this menace.
NACADA offers School-based programs which are currently being implemented in some learning institutions. The program has resulted to tremendous improvement in awareness levels on the dangers of drug abuse and a reduction in drug-related disciplinary cases. Furthermore, NACADA runs family programs focusing on positive parenting and strengthened communities.
In line with the COVID-19 prevention protocols established by Ministry of Health, we have embarked on media-driven campaigns to reach out to schools and engage them on prevention initiatives. We call upon School’s Board of Management (BoMs) to enhance efforts towards ensuring that their institutions establish Guidance and Counselling departments or have Chaplains that can address issues affecting learners and therefore, deter their initiation into drug use.
In the meantime, we invite affected schools, churches and other institutions to liaise with us through our Regional Offices for support and inclusion into our school-based programs. We are ready to work with and support any institutions requiring support in alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment.
Tackling alcohol and drug abuse in the country should include a comprehensive collaborative approach involving both state and non-state actors key among them Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, NACADA, County Governments, parents and guardians.
Parents have a responsibility to nurture their children positively and those who choose to raise their children in a home where addiction is prevalent, and even considered normal, can end up harming them in various ways.
Children look up to their parents for guidance in all ways and when a parent’s judgment is affected by substance abuse, they can not only cause mental, physical, and emotional disturbance, but they can also severely alter or hamper their child’s development in all these stages.