Get a Machakos County food handlers medical certificate and food hygiene permit
County Government of Machakos · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Everyone who handles food in a Machakos eatery or food shop needs a medical examination certificate (KSh 1,100), and the premises need a county food hygiene permit. Apply to the county's authorized officer; a public health officer inspects before the permit is issued.
- Fee
- KSh 1,100Food medical examination certificate (per person)KSh 1,000Food hygiene permit: small eating house, up to 10 customersKSh 2,000Food hygiene permit: hotelKSh 4,000Food hygiene permit: bar and restaurantKSh 2,000Food hygiene permit: butcheryKSh 2,000Food hygiene permit: outside catering serviceKSh 500Food hygiene permit: juice or fruit vendorKSh 1,500Business premises re-inspection (each time)
- Deadline
- Apply for next year's restaurant or eating house permit by 30 September. Late applications pay a late fee.
- Where
- In person with the County Government of Machakos (Department of Health Services, public health officers), which inspects and licenses eateries and food handlers. No online application was found.
What you need
- A valid medical examination certificate for every person who works in the restaurant, eating house or snack bar
- The county permit application form, filled in English and signed
Steps
- Make sure every person who will work with food has a valid medical examination certificate.
- Fill in the county's permit application form and hand it to the authorized officer. For a new business, do it at least 30 days before you plan to open.
- A public health officer comes to inspect your premises.
- Pay the permit fee for your type of business, collect the permit and hang it where customers can see it.
Watch out
- Not displaying your permit in a clear spot on the premises is an offence.
- Anyone who knows they have an infectious or contagious disease must not work in a restaurant, eating house or snack bar.
- The county can refuse the permit on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health, so fix any hygiene problems before the inspection.
Who can apply
- Anyone in Machakos County who sells food to be eaten on their premises (restaurants, eating houses, snack bars, cafés) needs a permit for those premises.
- Anyone working in a food shop or store needs a valid medical examination certificate.
Official sources (2)
- The Machakos County Finance Act, 2025 (No. 4 of 2025) machakos.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Health Services machakos.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026