Open or renew a pharmacy (chemist) premises licence
Pharmacy and Poisons Board · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Apply on the PPB practice portal (practice.pharmacyboardkenya.org) under New Facility before you fit out or stock the shop, pay the fees, then PPB inspects the premises. A registered pharmacist or pharmaceutical technologist must run it, and every licence expires on 31 December.
- Fee
- KSh 10,000Premises registration fee (retail, hospital or wholesale pharmacy)KSh 30,000Wholesale dealer's licence (wholesale pharmacy, on top of premises fee)KSh 5,000Annual practice licence (superintendent)
- Deadline
- 31 Dec 2026 All licences expire on 31 December. Apply to renew at least 30 days before.
- Where
- Online on the PPB practice portal (practice.pharmacyboardkenya.org); inspection by the nearest PPB regional office
What you need
- Business Name Registration (BN3) or Certificate of Incorporation
- For a company: current CR12 or a search showing directors/shareholders
- National ID of the applicant
- Personal KRA PIN of the superintendent
- Company KRA PIN certificate
- If the owner isn't the superintendent: a signed contract with the superintendent
- A sketch plan of the shop showing where medicines are sold, dispensed and stored
- Hospital pharmacies: the hospital's current KMPDC licence
Steps
- The superintendent signs in at practice.pharmacyboardkenya.org, clicks New Facility, fills in the premises details and attaches the eCitizen business name search.
- When the first review is approved, complete the application for your premise type, attach the documents and pay (mobile money is recommended). Download the receipt.
- You'll get an SMS when approved. Contact the nearest PPB office to have the premises inspected.
- After final approval, download and print the licence and display it clearly in the shop.
- To renew each year: log in, click Renewal, then New renewal application, pick your premises and pay.
Watch out
- Apply before you fit out or stock the shop. PPB can decline, and it considers how close you are to other pharmacies.
- Renewing more than 30 days after expiry adds a 10% late penalty.
- A pharmacist or pharm tech can be superintendent of only one premise at a time.
Who can apply
- The premises must be supervised by a registered pharmacist or enrolled pharmaceutical technologist with a valid practice licence (the superintendent).
- Everyone with a financial interest in the pharmacy business must be a registered pharmacist or enrolled pharmaceutical technologist.
Official sources (3)
- Licensing Establishments & Pharmacy Practice web.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Guidelines for Registration and Licensing of Premises (PRA/LPP/GPP/GUD/060, Revision 06, October 2025) web.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- PPB Online Services Portal (practice portal) practice.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 2 Oct 2026