How to obtain an alcohol trade license in Kenya

1. 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.
2. 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
   • Form 2: Application for The Grant or Renewal of a Licence to Manufacture or Produce an alcoholic drink
   • Form 3: Application for The Grant or Renewal of a Licence to import or expert an alcoholic drink

    

3. 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

4. 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.
5. 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.

    

    

6. 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

7. After making the payments, the liquor license signed and you will be advised to collect it from the dispatch office.
8. Once you have acquired the license , display it on your business premises as the law requires

Required Documents

1. Identification card.
2. PIN certificate
3. Health certificate (Department of Health Services clearance)
4. Fire clearance.
5. NACADA certificate
6. KEBS certificate

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.

Processing Time

• Process takes 30 working days