Who licenses bars, betting shops, markets and businesses: the county or the national government?
Constitution of Kenya 2010; Gambling Control Act 2025 · sources read 4 Oct 2026
County governments issue trade licences and business permits, run markets, and license bars (liquor), local betting and gambling premises, cinemas, dogs and food businesses. The national government handles national betting, casinos and gambling: gambling operators need a licence under the Gambling Control Act, and the county issues the trade permit for the premises.
- Where
- Business permits, markets, bars, cinemas and food businesses: your county government. Gambling licences: Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, plus a county trade permit for the premises
Steps
- For a business permit (trade licence) or a market stall, go to your county government.
- For a bar (liquor licence), cinema or video show, the county issues the licence.
- To run betting or other gambling, the activity itself must be licensed under the Gambling Control Act, by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya.
- The county then issues the trade permit for the gambling premises.
Watch out
- Gambling appears in both the national and county lists, so both levels have powers over it.
- County trade licensing does not cover regulating professions such as doctors or lawyers.
- Businesses that sell food to the public are licensed and inspected by the county.
Who this covers
- Applies to businesses across Kenya: the Constitution's Fourth Schedule splits licensing between the national and county governments.
Official sources (2)
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Gambling Control Act, 2025 (No. 14 of 2025), Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 141 gra.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026