A Food Vendor or Hawker Permit authorises individuals to sell food or goods from mobile carts, market stalls, roadsides, or other non-fixed locations within a county. It is one of the most commonly sought permits in urban Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, given the large number of informal traders operating in these cities.
Issuing Authority: County Government Revenue and Trade Department
| Vendor Type | Annual Permit Fee (KES) |
|---|---|
| Fruit and vegetable hawker | 1,000 – 3,000 |
| Cooked food street vendor | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| Mobile milk / dairy vendor | 2,000 – 4,000 |
| Market stall holder (food) | 3,000 – 8,000 |
| Market stall holder (non-food) | 2,000 – 6,000 |
| Mobile goods hawker (non-food) | 1,500 – 4,000 |
| Daily / temporary vendor permit | 100 – 500 per day |
Hawkers operating without a valid permit are subject to confiscation of goods and fines ranging from KES 2,000 to KES 10,000. Many counties have designated hawking zones; trading outside these zones may attract additional penalties even with a valid permit.
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