Get a Mombasa County liquor licence
County Government of Mombasa · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Apply to Mombasa County's liquor licensing directorate on its form and pay the KSh 10,000 application fee. After inspection and a hearing, you get the licence once you pay the 2026 fee for your type of outlet (for example KSh 67,000 general retail, KSh 45,000 restaurant), and it lasts 12 months.
- Fee
- KSh 10,000Application or renewal fee (per premises)KSh 67,000General retail licence (2026)KSh 35,000General retail, off-licence / wines and spirits (2026)KSh 45,000Restaurant licence (2026)KSh 100,000Hotel licence with one bar (2026)KSh 25,000Each additional hotel bar (2026)KSh 150,000Members club (2026)KSh 150,000Proprietary club, night club or discotheque (2026)KSh 100,000Wholesale, per premises (2026)KSh 100,000Distributor (2026)KSh 150,000Supermarket or franchised retail store (2026)
- Where
- In person at the County Government of Mombasa liquor licensing directorate (Department of Tourism, Culture and Trade). No online application was found.
What you need
- The county application form, stating where your premises are
- A short proposal explaining the kind of outlet and why it is needed
- A statement of any past conviction for a liquor offence
- For manufacturers: KEBS certification
Steps
- Get the application form from the county liquor licensing directorate (Department of Tourism, Culture and Trade), fill it in with your premises' location and pay the application fee.
- Within about 21 days the directorate and a public health officer inspect your premises.
- Attend the directorate's meeting in person and show why a licence of that type is needed in your area.
- If there is no objection, pay the licence fee for your type of outlet and collect the licence.
Watch out
- The licence lasts 12 months from the date it is issued, so diary the renewal.
- You also need a health clearance certificate for liquor, which costs 10% of your liquor licence fee.
- If you are refused, you usually have to wait six months before applying again for the same kind of licence.
Who can apply
- Anyone who wants to sell or deal in alcoholic drinks in Mombasa County: bars, restaurants, hotels, clubs, wines and spirits shops, supermarkets, wholesalers and distributors.
- You must be 18 or older.
- For a retail licence, you must live in Kenya.
Official sources (3)
- The Mombasa County Liquor Licensing Act, 2014 (Mombasa County Gazette Supplement No. 21, Acts No. 12) web.mombasa.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- The Mombasa County Finance Act, 2025 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 10) web.mombasa.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Tourism, Culture and Trade web.mombasa.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026