Alcohol regulations in Kenya

Licences needed

County Alcoholic Drinks Manufacturing Licence, KRA Excise Manufacturer Licence, KEBS Standardization Mark (SM), NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) License, Public Health / Food Hygiene License, and County Single Business Permit.

Authority

Respective County Alcoholic Drinks Regulation Committee, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

Documents

Certificate of Incorporation / Business Registration, Form CR12, KRA PIN and Tax Compliance Certificate, physical factory site and architectural layout, flow diagrams of distillation/bottling process, NEMA EIA clearance certificate, water quality test reports, KEBS laboratory test analysis reports, and public health food handlers' medical certificates.

Fees

County manufacturing licence typically KES 50,000 to KES 250,000+ per year depending on county; KRA excise manufacturer licensing fee KES 50,000 to KES 150,000; KEBS product certification and audit fees apply.

Time to obtain

30 to 90 days following facility inspection and statutory approvals.

Who can import

Registered corporate entities or licensed business enterprises in Kenya possessing a valid KRA PIN, Tax Compliance Certificate, and an Alcoholic Drinks Import License.

Licences or registrations

NACADA Alcoholic Drinks Import License (applied via the Trade Facilitation Platform / KenTrade Single Window System) and KRA Excisable Goods Importer Registration for EGMS stamps.

Authority

National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Documents

Certificate of Incorporation or Business Name Registration, Form CR12, KRA PIN and Tax Compliance Certificate, Director/Shareholder IDs or passports/foreign work permits, company GPS coordinates, and product profile schedule (brand, ABV, country of origin, HS code, expected volumes).

Fees

NACADA import license fee (approx. KES 50,000 to KES 100,000 annually) plus KenTrade processing fees.

Time to obtain

2 to 4 weeks via the online Single Window System.

Required: yes Process: Mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) by KEBS-appointed inspection agents (e.g., SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas) in the exporting country to secure a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) per…

Importer of record must be licensed with NACADA and KRA; electronic Import Declaration Form (IDF) through KenTrade; consignment must be covered by a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) under PVoC or face a 20% CIF destination penalty…

25% (or 35% under revised East African Community Common External Tariff [EAC CET] 2022) ad valorem on CIF value for HS heading 2208, plus 2.5% Import Declaration Fee (IDF) and 2.0% Railway Development Levy (RDL).

Excise Duty on spirits of undenatured ethyl alcohol, liqueurs, and spirituous beverages of alcoholic strength exceeding 6%: KES 356.42 per litre (or specific rate under prevailing Finance Acts; spirituous drinks <=6% taxed at KES…

Private sector retail via licensed liquor stores ('wines and spirits'), supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs. Retail licensing is administered by County Governments under County Alcoholic Drinks Control Acts.…

allowed

Mandatory particulars in English or Kiswahili: brand/trade name and generic spirit category, alcohol by volume (ABV %), net volume in metric units (minimum 250 ml; plastic sachets and small bottles banned), name and physical…

Heavily restricted under Sections 43-46 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act. Prohibited from targeting minors or depicting alcohol consumption as an indicator of social, athletic, or sexual success. Television and radio broadcast…

Regulated under KEBS East African Standards (KS EAS): KS EAS 109:2018 (Potable Spirits - minimum 37.5% ABV); KS EAS 138 (Whisky - minimum 40.0% ABV); KS EAS 142:2018 (Vodka - minimum 37.5% ABV); KS EAS 145:2018 (Gin - minimum…

No total nationwide dry jurisdictions; however, strict 300-metre alcohol-free exclusion zones surround all nursery, primary, secondary schools and places of worship. In addition, several Muslim-majority counties (such as Garissa,…

October 2025: NACADA made it mandatory for all alcoholic beverage import and export licenses and consignment permits to be processed online exclusively via the Kenya National Electronic Single Window System (Trade Facilitation…

Kenya presents expanding opportunities for foreign spirits exporters in the premium and super-premium segments—particularly single malt Scotch whisky, cognac, and craft gins—driven by an urban middle class and premium hospitality…

1. Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, Cap. 121 - Kenya Law
2. NACADA - Requirements for Importation or Export of an Alcoholic Drink
3. Kenya Revenue Authority - Excise Duty Act & EGMS Regulations
4. US TTB Kenya Alcohol Import Regulations Guide
5. East African Community Common External Tariff (EAC CET) 2022
6. Kenya Bureau of Standards - Potable Spirits Specifications (KS EAS 109, 142, 145)