Get a Kiambu County food handlers certificate and food hygiene permit
County Government of Kiambu · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Each food handler in a Kiambu eatery needs a food handlers certificate (KSh 500), and the premises needs a yearly food hygiene permit from county public health. A small eating house or tea house pays KSh 1,500 a year; pay by 31 March to avoid a 25% penalty.
- Fee
- KSh 500Food handlers certificate (per person)KSh 1,500Hygiene permit: small eating house, snack bar or tea house (up to 5 customers, no alcohol)KSh 1,500Hygiene permit: large eating house, snack bar or tea house (over 20 customers, no alcohol)KSh 1,000Hygiene permit: soup kitchen (mutura, kichwa, soup)KSh 1,000Hygiene permit: other eating house or catering (no accommodation, no alcohol)KSh 1,000Hygiene permit: small restaurant with bar (up to 10 customers)KSh 3,500Hygiene permit: large restaurant with bar or club (over 30 customers)KSh 2,500Hygiene permit: butchery with roasted meat or soup kitchen
- Deadline
- Pay the yearly hygiene permit fee by 31 March. After that you pay a 25% penalty on top.
- Where
- In person with the County Government of Kiambu public health officers (Department of Health Services; County Health Office in Thika Town). No online application was found. County hotline: 0742 000 888 / 0103 000 888, info@kiambu.go.ke.
What you need
- A food handlers certificate for every person who handles food
Steps
- Get a food handlers certificate (KSh 500) for every person who will prepare or serve food.
- Go to the county public health office and get the yearly food hygiene permit for your type of premises (restaurant, eating house, bar, butchery and so on).
- Pay the permit fee for your type of business by 31 March each year.
Watch out
- Food businesses pay the full rate. Only non-food businesses get the 50% rate.
- Late payment after 31 March adds 25% to the permit fee.
Who can apply
- Restaurants, bars, eating houses, tea and coffee houses, hotels and lodgings, and butcheries that roast meat or serve soup in Kiambu County.
Official sources (4)
- The Kiambu County Health Services Act, 2019 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 5, Kiambu County Acts No. 2) kiambu.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- The Kiambu County Finance Act, 2025 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 12, Kiambu County Acts No. 6) kiambu.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Health Services (department page) kiambu.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Contact Us kiambu.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026