A liquor license bar is one of the legal requirements for running a club, hotel, restaurant, or any business that sells or distributes alcoholic beverages in Kenya.

The license is a legal requirement and is issued by the county-level Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board.

The liquor licensing function was devolved to the county governments after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. This function was previously performed by the national government under the National Campaign Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA) in 2023. 

The process has been made easier with the digitization of government processes, and most counties are now allowing applications through the eCitizen portal or their specific county e-services websites.

The whole process for obtaining a new or renewing an existing liquor license in Nairobi is managed through the official online portal at liquorpay.nairobiservices.go.ke.

Before applying for a liquor license in Kenya, you must register your business on the portal to access any licensing services.

This means that your business name or company must be officially registered with the Registrar of Companies in Kenya through the eCitizen portal. It will cost you about KSh 11,000 to register a company. 

Step 1. Apply and pay for a company name search (Ksh150 per Name)

You can apply for up to 3 names in one order

Step 2. Obtain company name reservation in 1-3 days (Free if Name Search is successful)

This is usually sent to your email/eCitizen account and can be downloaded.

Step 3. Unified Business Permit (UBP): Nairobi City County offers a Unified Business Permit (UBP). The UBP includes components like your trade license, fire clearance certificate, and health certificate, which are important for the liquor license process.

Step 4. KRA Tax Compliance Certificate: You must have a valid Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Your business KRA PIN is also required. Apply online through the KRA iTax Portal.

Having a registered business gives you the legal standing required to apply for and hold a liquor license.

To access the portal, log in to liquorpay.nairobiservices.go.ke using your account credentials.

From your dashboard, navigate to the “Services” section and choose “New Application” under “Liquor Licensing”.

Complete the online form with accurate details about your business. Key information required includes:

Scan and upload the required supporting documents. The portal will specify the acceptable formats and sizes.

Step 6. Pay the Application Fee

After submitting your application form, the system will generate a payment bill for the initial application fee.

The application fee for Nairobi is Ksh6,000.

An invoice will be generated within the portal. Pay the fee as instructed, commonly through mobile money (e.g., M-Pesa) or bank deposit.

Retain the payment confirmation for your records.

The application is first reviewed by the Sub-county Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Committee.

Thereafter, the committee, often accompanied by public health and county inspectorate officers, will conduct a physical inspection of your premises.

They will verify that the location meets all health, safety, and regulatory standards.

The inspection findings will be documented and submitted to the main Nairobi County Liquor Licensing Board for a final decision.

Step 8: Await Approval and Pay for the License

If your application is successful, you will receive a notification of approval through the online portal.

The system will then generate the final payment bill for the actual annual license fee.

The annual license fee in Nairobi is KSh50,000; however, this amount will vary based on the license type and business size.

Pay the annual license fee promptly. Once all payments are confirmed, your official Nairobi Liquor License will be issued.

You can download and print your license certificate directly from the online portal.

It is a legal requirement to display your valid license prominently within your business premises.

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