Comprehensive List of Licenses & Permits Issued by the National and Local Governments of Kenya

A. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT LICENSES

1. Business Registration & Tax (Business Registration Service / KRA)

• Business Registration Certificate (Sole Proprietorship)
• Business Registration Certificate (Partnership)
• Certificate of Incorporation (Limited Company)
• Limited Liability Partnership Registration Certificate
• KRA Personal Identification Number (PIN)
• VAT Registration Certificate
• Excise Duty Registration
• Licence to Manufacture Excisable Goods
• Excise Stamps
• Tax Compliance Certificate

2. Financial Services (Central Bank of Kenya / CMA / IRA / SASRA)

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

• Commercial Bank Licence
• Mortgage Finance Company Licence
• Microfinance Bank Licence
• Microfinance Institution Licence
• Foreign Bank Representative Office Licence
• Foreign Exchange Bureau Licence
• Money Remittance Licence
• Credit Reference Bureau Licence
• Digital Credit Provider Licence
• Payment Service Provider Licence
• Electronic Money Issuer Licence

Capital Markets Authority (CMA)

• Stockbroker Licence
• Investment Bank Licence
• Fund Manager Licence
• Investment Adviser Licence
• Securities Exchange Operator Licence
• Central Depository Licence
• Collective Investment Scheme Licence

Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)

• General Insurance Business Licence
• Long-Term Insurance Business Licence
• Reinsurance Company Licence
• Insurance Agent Licence
• Insurance Broker Licence
• Insurance Surveyor Licence
• Insurance Risk Manager Licence
• Insurance Investigator Licence
• Insurance Claim Settling Agent Licence

Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA)

• Deposit-Taking SACCO Licence

3. Communications & ICT (Communications Authority of Kenya)

• Telecommunications Operator Licence (Voice, Data, Mobile Services)
• Network Facility Provider Licence (Tier 1)
• Network Facility Provider Licence (Tier 2)
• Applications Service Provider Licence
• Content Service Provider Licence
• Electronic Communications Service Provider Licence
• Internet Service Provider Licence
• International Gateway Operator Licence
• Broadcasting Licence (TV / Radio)
• Commercial Broadcasting Licence
• Frequency Spectrum Licence
• Satellite Earth Station Licence
• Telecommunications Contractor Licence
• Type Approval of ICT Equipment
• Amateur Radio Station Licence
• Aircraft Radio Licence
• Citizen Band Radio Licence
• Postal Courier Operators Licence

4. Energy & Petroleum (Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority – EPRA)

Petroleum

• Petroleum Storage Licence (except LPG)
• Petroleum Transport Licence (except LPG)
• Petroleum Transport Licence (Railway)
• Storage of Crude Oil Licence
• Import, Export and Wholesale of Petroleum Products (except LPG) Licence
• Export and Wholesale of Petroleum Products (except LPG) Licence
• Retail of Petroleum Products Licence (except LPG)
• Fuel Oil Wholesale Licence
• Import, Export and Wholesale of Bitumen
• Bunkering of Petroleum Products Licence (except LPG)
• Transport of Jet A-1 Licence
• Export and Wholesale of Jet A-1 Licence
• Storage and Filling of LPG in Bulk
• Transport of LPG in Bulk Licence
• Export and Wholesale of LPG in Bulk Licence
• Import, Export and Wholesale of LPG in Bulk Licence
• Wholesale of LPG in Cylinders Licence
• Retail of LPG in Cylinders Licence
• Transport of LPG in Cylinders Licence
• Storage and Filling of LPG in Cylinders

Electricity

• Electricity Generation Licence
• Electricity Generation, Distribution and Supply Licence
• Electrical Contractor Licence
• Electrical Technician Licence
• Solar Photovoltaic Licence
• Energy Audit Firm Licence
• Developer Operator Licence

Construction Permits (EPRA)

• Petrol Service Station Construction Permit
• LPG Storage and Filling Facility Construction Permit
• Fuel Storage Depot Construction Permit
• LPG Storage Depot Construction Permit
• Petroleum Pipeline Construction Permit
• Petroleum Refinery Construction Permit
• Crude Storage Depot Construction Permit
• Petroleum Jetty Construction Permit
• Fuel Consumer Site Construction Permit
• Fuel Retail Site Construction Permit

5. Mining (Ministry of Mining / Mining Department)

• Reconnaissance Licence
• Prospecting Licence
• Mining Licence
• Retention Licence
• Reconnaissance Permit
• Prospecting Permit
• Mining Permit
• Artisanal Mining Permit

6. Environment (National Environment Management Authority – NEMA)

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Licence – Low Risk Projects
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Licence – Medium and High Risk Projects
• Environmental Audit Certificate
• Noise Permit
• Waste Management Licence

7. Transport & Road Safety (NTSA / Kenya Railways / Kenya Ports Authority)

NTSA / Traffic Department

• Learner’s Driving Licence
• Class A Driving Licence (Motorcycles)
• Class B Driving Licence (Light Vehicles / Private Cars)
• Class C Driving Licence (Commercial Light Trucks / Pickups)
• Class D Driving Licence (Heavy Vehicles – Lorries / Trucks / Trailers)
• Class E Driving Licence (Buses and Large PSVs)
• Class F Driving Licence (Specialised / Agricultural Machinery)
• Class G Driving Licence (Tractor / Agricultural Vehicle)
• Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Licence
• Motor Vehicle Operating Licence (Commercial Vehicles)
• Motor Vehicle Hire Licence
• Driving School Licence
• Driver Certification

8. Aviation (Kenya Civil Aviation Authority – KCAA)

• Student Pilot’s Licence
• Private Pilot’s Licence
• Commercial Pilot’s Licence
• Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence
• Flight Instructor’s Licence
• Ground Instructor’s Licence
• Flight Engineer’s Licence
• Flight Operations Officer’s Licence
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licence
• Flight Radio Telephony Operator’s Licence
• Cabin Crew Member Certificate
• Air Traffic Controller’s Licence
• Balloon Operator’s Licence

9. Health & Pharmaceuticals

Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB)

• Pharmacist Annual Practice Licence
• Pharmaceutical Technologist Practice Licence
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Licence
• Pharmaceutical Wholesale Dealer’s Licence
• Pharmaceutical Retail (Pharmacy) Licence
• Drug Distributor Licence
• Medicine Import Permit
• Product Registration Certificate (Drugs / Medical Devices)

Ministry of Health / Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)

• Medical Practitioner Registration Certificate
• Dentist Registration Certificate
• Foreign-Trained Doctor Registration Certificate
• Foreign-Trained Specialist Registration Certificate
• Health Facility Registration Certificate
• Clinical Officer Licence
• Nurse/Midwife Licence

Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board

• Medical Laboratory Technician Licence
• Medical Laboratory Technologist Licence

10. Food & Agriculture

Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) / Kenya Dairy Board (KDB)

• Milk Producer Licence
• Milk Processor Licence
• Milk Cooling Plant Licence
• Mini Dairy Licence
• Milk Dispenser Licence
• Milk Bar Licence
• Milk Movement Permit
• Food Hygiene Certificate
• Food Hygiene Licence
• Licence to Manufacture Excisable Goods (Food/Beverage)

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)

• Phytosanitary Certificate
• Import Permit (Plants / Plant Products)
• Export Certificate (Plants / Plant Products)
• Seed Dealer’s Licence
• Seed Import/Export Permit

Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD)

• Fresh Produce Export Licence

11. Livestock & Veterinary

• Slaughterhouse Registration Certificate
• Slaughterman Licence
• Meat Transport Permit
• Certificate of Meat Transport
• Hatchery Registration Certificate
• Pig Producer Licence
• Stock Brand Registration
• Local Animal Movement Permit
• Hides and Skins Dispatch Note
• Dog Licence
• Tannery / Banda Registration Certificate
• Veterinary Health Certificate

12. Tourism & Hospitality (Tourism Regulatory Authority / Kenya Wildlife Service)

• Hotel Licence
• Villa Licence
• Homestay Licence
• Restaurant Licence
• Vocational Hotel Classification
• Tour Operator’s Licence
• Travel Agency Licence
• Tour Driver’s Licence
• Tour Leader’s Licence (Non-Citizens)
• Water Sports / Boat Excursions Licence
• Professional Safari Photographer’s Licence

13. Education (Ministry of Education / TVET Authority)

• School Operating Licence (Primary / Secondary)
• University Charter
• Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Institution Licence
• Early Childhood Development Centre Licence

14. Export Processing Zones (EPZ Authority)

• EPZ Manufacturing Enterprise Licence
• EPZ Service Enterprise Licence
• EPZ Commercial Enterprise Licence
• EPZ Business Service Permit

15. Construction & Engineering (NCA / Engineers Board of Kenya)

• NCA Contractor Registration Certificate
• Engineering Consulting Firm Registration
• Architectural Professional Registration
• Architectural Firm Registration
• Lift Registration Certificate
• Workplace Registration Certificate

16. Occupational Safety & Health (DOSHS)

• Workplace Registration Certificate / Safety Certificate
• Factory Registration Certificate

17. Standards & Quality (Kenya Bureau of Standards – KEBS)

• Standardization Mark Licence
• Import Standardization Mark
• Diamond Mark of Quality
• Batch/Lot Release Certificate

18. Immigration & Work Permits (Department of Immigration)

• Entry Visa
• Class A Work Permit (Mining and Prospecting)
• Class B Work Permit (Agriculture and Animal Husbandry)
• Class C Work Permit (Prescribed Professionals)
• Class D Work Permit (Employees)
• Class F Work Permit (Manufacturing)
• Class G Work Permit (Investor)
• Class I Work Permit (Missionaries)
• Dependent’s Pass
• Foreign National Registration Certificate
• Special Pass
• Investment Certificate

19. Land (National Land Commission / Ministry of Lands)

• Land Consent (Freehold)
• Land Consent (Leasehold)
• Land Survey Plan
• Stamp Duty Certificate
• Land Rent Clearance Certificate

B. COUNTY GOVERNMENT LICENSES

1. Core Business Permits

• Single Business Permit (SBP) — consolidates all county-level business licenses
• Trading Licence
• Cottage Industry Licence

2. Food, Health & Hospitality

• Food Hygiene Certificate (Premises)
• Food Handler’s Medical Certificate
• Health Inspection Certificate (Premises)
• Butchery Licence
• Food Vendor / Hawker Permit

3. Alcohol & Entertainment

• Alcoholic Drinks Licence (Liquor Licence)
• Bar & Restaurant Alcohol Licence
• Entertainment Licence (Nightclub / Live Music)
• Entertainment / Events Permit

4. Outdoor Advertising & Signage

• Advertising Signage Certificate / Outdoor Advertising Permit

5. Fire & Safety (County Fire Service)

• Fire Clearance Certificate / Fire Safety Licence

6. Physical Planning & Building

• County Construction / Building Permit
• Change of User Permit
• Subdivision / Amalgamation Permit
• Development Permission / Planning Approval
• Occupation Certificate

7. Environment (County Level)

• Waste Disposal Permit
• Noise Permit (County Level)
• Quarry / Sand Harvesting Permit

8. Markets & Hawkers

• Market Trading Permit / Stall Licence
• Mobile / Hawkers Permit

9. Land & Property (County)

• Land Rates Clearance Certificate
• Rates Clearance Certificate

10. Transport & Parking (County)

• Parking Lot Operating Licence
• Boda Boda (Motorcycle Taxi) Permit
• Tuk-Tuk Operating Permit

11. Water (County Water Services Board)

• Water Connection Permit
• Borehole Drilling Permit

Sources: Kenya Investment Authority eProcedures Portal (eprocedures.investkenya.go.ke), KenInvest Sectoral Permits Database, Communications Authority of Kenya, KCAA, EPRA, NEMA, PPB, NTSA, Tourism Regulatory Authority, and relevant sectoral legislation.