Get or renew a Kilifi County liquor licence
County Government of Kilifi · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Apply on the county form to the Sub-county Liquor Committee where your premises are and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee. After a public notice and hearing, the committee grants the licence once you pay the yearly fee (for example KSh 40,000 for a bar and restaurant in Malindi, Kilifi or Mtwapa), and every licence ends on 31 December.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Application feeKSh 40,000Bar and restaurant, Malindi/Watamu/Kilifi/Mtwapa/Kaloleni/Mariakani/Mazeras and similar (12 months)KSh 25,000Bar and restaurant, Gongoni/Mambui/Marereni/Matsangoni/Tezo/Vipingo/Shariani/Mkapuni and similar (12 months)KSh 20,000Bar and restaurant, Marafa/Ganze/Bamba/Chasimba and similar interior zones (12 months)KSh 20,000Bar only, Malindi/Watamu/Kilifi/Mtwapa and similar towns (12 months)KSh 15,000Bar only, Marafa/Ganze/Bamba/Chasimba and similar interior zones (12 months)KSh 20,000Wines and spirits (off-licence), Malindi/Watamu/Kilifi/Mtwapa and similar towns (12 months)KSh 80,000Night club or discotheque, Malindi/Watamu/Kilifi/Mtwapa and similar towns (12 months)KSh 2,000Transfer of a licenceKSh 1,100Public health premises inspection for liquor licensing
- Deadline
- Every licence ends on 31 December; renew before then.
- Where
- In person at the Sub-county Liquor Licensing Committee for the sub-county where your premises are (County Government of Kilifi). No online application was found.
What you need
- The county application form for a liquor licence
- Details of the business: what kind of outlet it is and why it is needed there
- If you are licensed in another county, proof of that licence
- For manufacturers: KEBS certification
Steps
- Fill in the county application form and hand it in to the Sub-county Liquor Committee in the sub-county where your premises are. Pay the application fee.
- The committee puts up a notice of your application at the Sub-county Administrator's office for at least 21 days and near your premises, so the public can object.
- Go to the committee hearing yourself or send an advocate, and show why the licence is needed in that area.
- If the committee has no objection, it grants the licence once you pay the licence fee.
Watch out
- Every Kilifi liquor licence ends on 31 December, whatever month you got it, so renew before the new year.
- Premises for drinking on site must be at least 300 metres from any nursery, primary or secondary school.
- No licence is given for an outlet inside a petrol station or a fast food restaurant.
Who can apply
- Anyone who wants to make, import, distribute or sell alcoholic drinks in Kilifi County: bars, restaurants, hotels, clubs, wines and spirits shops and supermarkets.
- You must be 18 or older.
- For a retail licence, you must live in Kenya.
Official sources (2)
- The Kilifi County Liquor Control Act, 2015 (Kilifi County Acts No. 2) media.kilifi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- The Kilifi County Finance Act, 2024 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 8, Kilifi County Acts No. 1) media.kilifi.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026