Every business in Kenya answers to more offices than its owner expects. Most trouble doesn't come from breaking rules on purpose. It comes from not knowing an office existed until its letter arrived.
This guidebook lists the regulators a growing business is most likely to deal with, grouped by what you do, with a plain description of each and when you'll meet them. Start with the first chapter: every business needs it. Then read the chapters that match your work.
Free to share. Send it to anyone starting or running a business: the more people know where to go, the fewer businesses close over a missing permit.
Every business
Business Registration Service (BRS)
Registers companies, business names, partnerships and limited liability partnerships, and keeps the register of beneficial owners.
You’ll meet themBefore you start trading, whenever directors, shareholders or owners change, and every year for annual returns.
Your county government
Issues the business permit for each premises (Nairobi calls it the unified business permit), plus fire safety and public health clearances, signage and advertising permits, and building approvals.
You’ll meet themFor every premises you open, renewed every year.
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC)
Enforces the Data Protection Act, 2019: registers data controllers and processors, handles complaints and can fine businesses that mishandle personal data.
You’ll meet themAs soon as you keep personal data about customers or staff. Whether you must register depends on your size and sector; the duties of the Act apply to everyone.
When you employ people
National Social Security Fund (NSSF)
Runs the national pension scheme. Employers register, deduct the employee's share, add their own and remit every month.
You’ll meet themBefore your first payroll, then monthly.
Social Health Authority (SHA)
Runs the Social Health Insurance Fund, which replaced NHIF in 2024. Employers deduct staff contributions through payroll and remit them.
You’ll meet themBefore your first payroll, then monthly.
National Industrial Training Authority (NITA)
Collects the industrial training levy from employers, funds approved training and runs trade testing and certification.
You’ll meet themOnce you employ staff, then monthly.
Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS)
Registers workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, inspects them, and receives reports of accidents at work.
You’ll meet themWhen you open a workplace, and whenever there is an accident or an inspection.
Labour officers (State Department for Labour)
Enforce the Employment Act, 2007 and the minimum wage orders, and help settle disputes between employers and staff.
You’ll meet themIf a dispute arises, or when an inspector visits.
National Employment Authority (NEA)
Registers private employment agencies, including those recruiting Kenyans for jobs abroad.
You’ll meet themIf you recruit for others, or use an agency.
Directorate of Immigration Services
Issues work permits and passes for foreign staff.
You’ll meet themBefore a foreign hire starts work, and at every renewal.
Products, brands and fair trading
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Sets national standards, certifies products with the standardisation mark and checks that imports meet Kenyan standards.
You’ll meet themBefore you manufacture, pack or import goods for sale.
Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI)
Registers trademarks, patents, industrial designs and utility models.
You’ll meet themWhen you name a brand or create something worth protecting. Register early: names are first come, first served.
Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO)
Registers copyright works and licenses the bodies that collect royalties for music, film and writing.
You’ll meet themIf you create content, or play music and show films to customers.
Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA)
Fights counterfeit goods, and records trademarks so it can stop fakes of your products.
You’ll meet themOnce your brand is registered and worth copying.
Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK)
Reviews mergers and acquisitions, acts on abuse of market power, and protects consumers against misleading claims and unfair terms.
You’ll meet themWhen you buy or merge with a business, or when you write your terms and advertising.
Food, farming and health
County public health officers
License food premises, inspect hygiene and require medical certificates for food handlers.
You’ll meet themBefore you open a kitchen, shop or food business, then yearly.
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)
Licenses dealers, processors and exporters in regulated crops, through its directorates for crops such as tea, coffee and horticulture.
You’ll meet themIf you buy, process or export regulated crops.
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
Protects plant health, certifies seed and inspects plants and produce for import and export.
You’ll meet themIf you trade in seed, plants or fresh produce across borders.
Kenya Dairy Board
Licenses milk processors, transporters and traders.
You’ll meet themIf you handle or sell milk and dairy products.
Directorate of Veterinary Services
Oversees animal health, movement permits and meat inspection.
You’ll meet themIf you keep, move or slaughter animals, or sell meat.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)
Registers doctors and dentists and licenses health facilities.
You’ll meet themBefore a clinic, hospital or dental practice opens, then yearly.
Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB)
Licenses pharmacies and pharmaceutical businesses and registers medicines and medical devices.
You’ll meet themBefore you sell, distribute or import medicines or medical devices.
Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB)
Registers laboratory professionals and licenses medical laboratories.
You’ll meet themBefore a lab opens, then yearly.
Nursing Council of Kenya
Registers nurses and midwives and licenses private nursing practice.
You’ll meet themIf you employ nurses or run a nursing practice.
Clinical Officers Council
Registers clinical officers and licenses the clinics they run.
You’ll meet themIf clinical officers practise in your facility.
Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA)
Licenses X-ray machines and other sources of radiation, and the people who use them.
You’ll meet themBefore you install imaging or other radiation equipment.
Building, energy and the environment
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
Issues environmental impact assessment licences, requires environmental audits, and licenses waste handling.
You’ll meet themBefore a new project or premises that could affect the environment, and for annual audits where required.
Water Resources Authority (WRA)
Issues permits to drill boreholes and draw water.
You’ll meet themBefore you drill or draw water from a river or well.
National Construction Authority (NCA)
Registers contractors and construction projects and enforces building standards on site.
You’ll meet themIf you build, or work as a contractor.
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)
Licenses businesses in electricity, petroleum, gas and renewable energy, including solar installers.
You’ll meet themIf you sell fuel or gas, install solar, or generate power.
Money and finance
Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)
Licenses and supervises banks, microfinance banks, forex bureaus, payment service providers and digital lenders.
You’ll meet themIf you lend, take deposits, exchange currency or move payments.
Capital Markets Authority (CMA)
Regulates the stock market, investment advisers and fund managers, and crowdfunding platforms.
You’ll meet themIf you raise money from the public or manage investments.
Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)
Licenses insurers, brokers and agents.
You’ll meet themIf you sell insurance, even as an agent alongside another business.
Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA)
Licenses and supervises deposit-taking Saccos.
You’ll meet themIf your Sacco takes deposits from members.
Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA)
Regulates pension and retirement schemes.
You’ll meet themIf you set up a pension scheme for your staff.
Transport, media and tourism
National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA)
Registers and inspects vehicles, licenses commercial and public service vehicles, and licenses driving schools.
You’ll meet themIf your business runs vehicles, carries passengers or teaches driving.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
Regulates aviation, including permits to fly drones.
You’ll meet themIf you fly drones for work or run an aviation business.
Communications Authority of Kenya (CA)
Licenses telecoms, broadcasting, postal and courier services, and approves communications equipment for sale.
You’ll meet themIf you run a courier, sell telecom equipment, broadcast or provide internet services.
Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB)
Classifies films and broadcast content and licenses filming and film distribution.
You’ll meet themIf you shoot, distribute or exhibit films and videos.
Media Council of Kenya
Accredits journalists and upholds media standards.
You’ll meet themIf you publish news or employ journalists.
Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA)
Licenses and classifies tourism businesses such as hotels, restaurants, tour operators and travel agents.
You’ll meet themBefore you open, then yearly.
Professions, training and government work
Professional bodies
Register practitioners in regulated professions: for example the Engineers Board of Kenya, the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya.
You’ll meet themIf you offer professional services, or hire someone to sign off work.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA)
Licenses technical and vocational training institutions and accredits their courses.
You’ll meet themBefore you open a college or offer accredited training.
Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA)
Sets and enforces the rules for selling to government. Businesses owned by youth, women and persons with disabilities can register with the National Treasury for AGPO, which reserves a share of tenders for them.
You’ll meet themWhen you start bidding for government work.
County alcoholic drinks boards
License the sale and serving of alcohol, premises by premises.
You’ll meet themBefore you sell or serve alcohol, then yearly.
Staying compliant
Registration is the start, not the end. Most licences and permits are renewed every year, and many come with returns, inspections or monthly payments. Keep one calendar of every licence and its renewal date, one folder with every certificate, and one person responsible for both.
If you'd rather not, that's exactly what our compliance service does: we list every office your business answers to, file in the right order, and keep the renewals from catching you out.
A starting point, not legal advice. Offices, rules and fees change; confirm the details with the regulator before you file.
