Get or renew a Vihiga County liquor (alcoholic drinks) licence
County Government of Vihiga · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Apply to the alcoholic drinks committee of the Vihiga sub-county where your premises are, and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee. A general retail (bar) licence costs KSh 50,000 a year in the municipality, 30,000 in other urban areas and 15,000 elsewhere, and every licence expires on 31 December.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Application feeKSh 50,000General retail licence, within a municipality, 12 monthsKSh 30,000General retail licence, within a municipality, 6 months or lessKSh 30,000General retail licence, other urban areas, 12 monthsKSh 15,000General retail licence, outside municipality and urban areas, 12 months
- Where
- Your sub-county alcoholic drinks committee, or the Directorate of Alcoholic Drinks Control (Department of Public Service Management and ICT), County Government of Vihiga, Mbale (P.O. Box 344-50300 Maragoli). No online liquor licence service was found.
What you need
- Application in the prescribed form, with full details of the business and why you want to set it up
- Proof of any liquor licence you hold in another county
- For manufacturers only: certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Steps
- Fill in the application form and take it to the alcoholic drinks committee of the sub-county where your premises are. Pay the KSh 1,000 application fee.
- Within 21 days the committee posts a public notice listing your application, so police, public health and planning officers and neighbours can comment or object.
- If the committee has no objection, it grants the licence once you pay the licence fee.
- Renew every year: all licences expire on 31 December.
Watch out
- Premises for drinking on site must be at least 300 metres from any nursery, primary, secondary or other school for under-18s.
- Applying late costs a penalty of KSh 100 for every day.
- If you applied to renew on time and the committee hasn't decided by 31 December, your old licence stays valid until it does.
Who can apply
- Anyone who wants to make, distribute or sell alcoholic drinks in Vihiga County, including bars, wines and spirits shops, hotels, clubs and distributors.
Official sources (3)
- The Vihiga County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2014 (No. 6 of 2014, Vihiga County Gazette Supplement No. 12, 5 Nov 2014) vihiga.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- The Vihiga County Finance Act, 2024 (Eleventh Schedule: Vihiga County Alcohol and drinks Control (Licensing) Regulation licence fees) vihiga.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Vihiga County inducts alcoholic drinks committees (10 Nov 2025) vihiga.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026