Relief as Nairobi County Lowers Licence Fees for Bar Owners

A photo of Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja
A photo of Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja
Photo

Bar owners within Nairobi can breathe a sigh of relief after the County Government reviewed downwards the prices for licenses in the General Retail Alcoholic Category for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Finance County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Economic Planning, Charles Kerich issued the gazette notice with the approval of Governor Johnson Sakaja, paving the way for the traders to pay the revised fees for the remainder of the financial year in question.

“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 5 (2) (a) of the Nairobi City County Tax Waivers Administration Act, 2013, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning, in concurrence with the Governor, has given waivers on the following charges and fees for the financial year 2023-2024,” stated the notice in part.

According to the Gazette notice seen by Kenyans.co.ke, bar owners will now part with Ksh25,000 down from the Ksh100,000 that they were initially required to pay.

Alcoholic drinks displayed in a club.
Alcoholic drinks displayed in a club.
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Wine Liquor Beer

In the same category of licences, medium-sized bars will also experience relief as the county waived 65 per cent of the fees to have them acquire licenses at Ksh35,000.

Under the Bars and Restaurants category, a 50 percent waiver has been applied setting the cap at Ksh50,000.

However, the biggest beneficiaries of the waiver will be the small bars and restaurant owners with a seating capacity of less than 30 as the government removed 100 per cent of the fees.

Medium Bar and Restaurants will now be required to part with Ksh75,000 down from Ksh100,000.

Meanwhile, those with a seating capacity of over 31 to 100 seats, will also be license fee-free in the new directive.

According to the Nairobi County Government, the fees were revised as a result of the tabling of a report from a taskforce appointed by the Governor, through which bar owners decried high licensing fees.

However, the revision of the charges comes at a time when the County has been closing down Liquor store operations in areas close to bus stops with 120 closed down in the past week.

According to Governor Johnson Sakaja, selling of alcohol next to bus stops has contributed towards reckless driving and accidents in the Capital's public transport scene.

An image of a table set up in a restaurant.jpg
An image of a table set up in a restaurant.
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