All alcohol importers in the country will be required to use the National Electronic Single Window system for import and export licenses and permits, starting Wednesday, October 1, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has announced.
In a statement on Wednesday, September 1, NACADA's CEO, Anthony Omerikwa, said that the system, which is being managed by Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), aims to ensure that the licensing process of those involved in the trade of this commodity is more efficient, transparent, and less prone to delays or corruption.
For an alcohol importer and exporter to apply for a license, they will be required to log in to the NESWS system, apply for the license, and pay the necessary applicable fee before they submit for approval.
According to Nacada, once the product arrives in the country, the importer, exporter, or customs agent will also be required to apply for a consignment document through the same system to facilitate clearance of goods.
Stakeholders have been encouraged to visit the NACADA website to acquire a step-by-step guide for the new licensing process.
"This integration is part of a national initiative aimed at streamlining trade processes, enhancing transparency, and strengthening regulatory oversight," the statement read.
"The move will centralise clearance of all alcoholic beverages and related products under NACADA, reduce manual processing and delays through automated workflows, and improve compliance and data integrity across agencies," it added.
The authority has said that all charges related to NACADA's import and export licensing will remain under the current legal framework.
According to NACADA, through the new system, all payments for licenses will be made exclusively through the eCitizen platform, which will be integrated with the NESWS.
However, licenses issued before October 1, 2025, will remain valid until their original expiry date, with details uploaded into the online platform.
"Upon shipment arrival at the point of entry, the importer/exporter or customs agent logs into the NESWS system to apply for a Consignment Document (Permit). The permit serves as clearance and does not attract any fees," NACADA stated.
"In preparation for the transition, all stakeholders are urged to familiarise themselves with the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS) in readiness for onboarding. NACADA will provide the necessary onboarding support as required," it added.
