Get or renew a Makueni County liquor (alcoholic drinks) licence
Government of Makueni County · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Fill in the Makueni County liquor licence application form and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee; the county then inspects your premises and awards the licence. A general retail (bar) licence costs KSh 30,000 a year in big towns like Wote and Emali and KSh 15,000 in smaller markets.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Application for a liquor licence, per yearKSh 30,000General retail alcoholic drink licence, Zone A (Wote, Emali, Sultan Hamud, Makindu, Kibwezi), per yearKSh 20,000General retail alcoholic drink licence, Zone B (medium markets), per yearKSh 15,000General retail alcoholic drink licence, Zone C (all other markets), per yearKSh 18,000Half-year general retail licence, Zone A
- How long
- About 21 days to handle the application, 21 days for the inspection and 7 days to award the licence (county service charter).
- Where
- Directorate of Alcoholic Drinks Control, Department of Devolution, Government of Makueni County, Wote (P.O. Box 78-90300 Makueni; 020-2477000). Office hours Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. No online liquor licence service was found.
What you need
- Filled liquor licence application form
Steps
- Fill in the liquor licence application form and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee.
- The Directorate of Alcoholic Drinks Control inspects your premises. The inspection is free.
- Once inspected, the licence is awarded. Pay the licence fee for your type of outlet and zone.
Watch out
- Fees depend on your market: Zone A is Wote, Emali, Sultan Hamud, Makindu and Kibwezi towns; Zone B is medium markets like Nunguni, Kikima and Mtito Andei; Zone C is all other markets.
- There is a cheaper half-year licence: a general retail licence for six months costs KSh 18,000 in Zone A, 12,000 in Zone B and 9,000 in Zone C.
- If you're refused, an appeal costs KSh 2,000.
Who can apply
- Bars and other retail sellers, hotels, restaurants, clubs, supermarkets, wholesalers, distributors and brewers dealing in alcoholic drinks in Makueni County.
Official sources (2)
- The Makueni County Finance Act, 2025 (No. 5 of 2025) umanyi.makueni.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Department of Devolution, Public Participation, County Administration & Special Programs: Citizen's Service Delivery Charter makueni.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026