Under Section 44 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, any person intending to occupy or use any premises as a workplace in Kenya must first obtain a Workplace Registration Certificate from the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS). This requirement applies to all categories of workplace — offices, workshops, factories, retail premises, warehouses, and so on. The certificate must be renewed annually under Section 45(6) of the same Act.
Application is made using DOSHS Forms 21A, 21B, and 23 (the workplace self-assessment report).
Workplace Registration Certificate Fee Summary Table
| Fee Type | Amount (KES) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace registration fee | 2,000 | Annual; applies to all workplaces |
| OSH Levy | 3,000 | Payable alongside registration fee |
| Total annual compliance payment | 5,000 | Registration + OSH Levy combined |
Fees are set under the Occupational Safety and Health (Fees Charged for Occupational Safety and Health Services) Regulations, 2022, published in Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 49 of 29 March 2022.
Application Process
The occupier fills in DOSHS Form 21A (registration form) and DOSHS Form 23 (workplace self-assessment), deposits the registration fee (KES 2,000) and OSH Levy (KES 3,000) to the DOSHS bank account, and submits the forms and payment slip to the nearest DOSHS county office. The forms are reviewed at DOSHS headquarters, and the signed and sealed certificate is dispatched to the workplace. Operating a workplace without a valid certificate is an offence.
