Get a liquor licence in Nairobi (bar, restaurant, wines and spirits)
Nairobi City County Government · sources read 30 Sep 2026
Apply on LiquorPay (liquorpay.nairobiservices.go.ke): create an account, choose New Application and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee and KSh 5,000 inspection fee. Your sub-county liquor committee then hears the application, and the licence (from KSh 25,000 a year for a small bar) lasts 12 months.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Application fee (per licence)KSh 5,000Inspection fee (per outlet, yearly)KSh 25,000Small bar, up to 30 seats, no food (yearly)KSh 35,000Medium bar, 31-100 seats (yearly)KSh 50,000Small bar and restaurant, up to 30 seats (yearly)KSh 75,000Medium bar and restaurant, 31-100 seats (yearly)KSh 100,000Mega bar and restaurant, over 100 seats (yearly)KSh 100,000Wholesale (wines and spirits) (yearly)KSh 100,000Distributor (yearly)KSh 50,000Hotel, up to 30 rooms (yearly)KSh 75,000Hotel, 31-100 rooms (yearly)KSh 100,000Hotel, over 100 rooms (yearly)KSh 100,000Selling alcohol online, including social media (yearly)KSh 300,000Event licence, up to 3 daysKSh 500,000Event licence, up to 7 daysKSh 1,000Duplicate licence
- Where
- Online on LiquorPay (liquorpay.nairobiservices.go.ke). Office: Nairobi County Liquor Licensing Board, Weights and Measures Complex, Popo Road, Nairobi.
What you need
- Application form for a retail liquor licence (Form 1)
- Your ID or business registration documents, as the committee asks
- Your premises' physical address, phone number and email
- A statement of any past conviction for a liquor offence
Steps
- Go to liquorpay.nairobiservices.go.ke and create an account.
- Choose New Application, fill in your details and the type of licence, and pay the application and inspection fees.
- Your application is published and your premises inspected. Attend the sub-county liquor committee hearing yourself or through an advocate.
- If the committee has no objection, pay the licence fee for your category and you get your licence.
Watch out
- A bar must be at least 300 metres from any nursery, primary or secondary school. Check this before you pay rent.
- A licence lasts 12 months from the date it is issued, so renew it every year.
- If you are refused, you normally have to wait six months before applying again for the same licence.
Who can apply
- Anyone who wants to sell or deal in alcoholic drinks in Nairobi: bars, restaurants, hotels, wines and spirits shops, distributors, online sellers and event organisers.
- You must be 18 or older.
- For a retail licence, you must live in Kenya.
Official sources (4)
- The Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2026 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 12, Nairobi City County Acts No. 4) nairobi.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Act, 2014 nairobi.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Nairobi set for Digital Transformation as Nairobi County Liquor Committee and Sub-County Teams Undergo Intensive training ahead of “LiquorPay” Launch nairobi.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Liquor Pay | Nairobi County Liquor Licensing Board liquorpay.nairobiservices.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026