Get a warehouse certified and licensed to operate in the warehouse receipt system
Warehouse Receipt System Council · sources read 3 Oct 2026
First get a Certificate of Conformity from the Warehouse Receipt System Council (KSh 1,000), then apply to your county government for a warehouse operator's licence. The Council inspects your warehouse and must decide within 14 days of a complete application.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Certificate of Conformity (new or renewal), paid to WRSCKSh 500Application fee for warehouse operator's licence, paid to the countyKSh 1,000Warehouse operator's licence (new or renewal), paid to the county
- How long
- Certificate of Conformity: within 14 days of a complete application
- Deadline
- The licence expires on 30 June every year
- Deadline
- Apply to renew at least one month before the licence expires
- Where
- Warehouse Receipt System Council, Tea House, Naivasha Road, off Ngong Road, Nairobi (certificate), then your county government (licence)
What you need
- Business plan for the warehouse
- Current tax compliance certificate
- Certificate of good conduct
- Copy of the insurance policy
- Copy of the valid licence for the warehouse
- For a company: certificate of incorporation and latest CR12
- Latest warehouse inspection report (within the last two years)
Steps
- Apply to the Warehouse Receipt System Council for a Certificate of Conformity on Form 1A, with your documents and proof of payment.
- A WRSC inspector inspects and evaluates your warehouse operations against the standards.
- The certification committee reviews your application and the Registrar approves the Certificate of Conformity.
- Apply to your county executive committee member (CEC) for a warehouse operator's licence on Form 1C, with the certificate and a performance bond.
- Once licensed, the Council enters you in the Central Registry and you can start operating.
Watch out
- The county licence needs a performance bond worth 10% of the value of the commodity you mainly store or plan to store.
- Every licence ends on 30 June, whatever month you got it, so plan your renewal early.
- Collateral managers apply for a separate Certificate of Compliance, not a Certificate of Conformity.
Who can apply
- A limited company or other legal entity registered in Kenya.
- You must have, or show you can raise, capital for the set-up and three years of running costs.
- Your warehouse must already be licensed under the Crops Act and the Crops (Food Crops) Regulations.
Official sources (2)
- Warehouse Operator - Certification Process wrsc.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Warehouse Receipt System Regulations, 2021 wrsc.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026