County Introduces Nairobi Smart Licensing System

Nairobi City County has rolled out an electronic licensing platform designed to simplify and modernize the permitting process for businesses across the city. Dubbed the Unified Business Permit (UBP), the initiative allows entrepreneurs to apply for — and pay for — business licences online via the county’s digital portal NairobiPay, replacing multiple licences with a single unified permit. The change eliminates the need for separate fire, health, advertisement, pest control, and food-hygiene permits, significantly reducing bureaucracy for traders and SMEs.
Under the new system, business owners can register, apply, pay, and receive their permit digitally — without physically visiting multiple offices. According to official guidelines, the UBP merges all mandated licences under the existing Nairobi City County Trade Licensing Act, 2019, simplifying compliance and making it easier to operate legally within the city. The UBP became effective on 1 January 2024, fulfilling a key commitment made by the county leadership toward improving the ease of doing business in Nairobi.
The reaction from business owners has been largely positive. Entrepreneurs welcome the reduced red-tape, noting that digital licensing saves time, lowers administrative costs, and minimizes revenue leakage. Because the system is centralized, small shops, informal traders, and larger enterprises now find it easier to register and maintain compliance — boosting formality and transparency in Nairobi’s informal and formal sectors alike. Analysts argue that this leap toward digital licensing could also increase revenue collection for the county, while making compliance more accessible for small traders who previously struggled with multiple licence requirements.
Looking forward, county officials have indicated plans to expand the digital platform’s capacity — potentially integrating additional services such as health-inspection scheduling, fire-clearance renewals, advertisement control, and automated license renewals. If fully implemented, Nairobi’s smart licensing system could serve as a model for other counties in Kenya, promoting formalization, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and improving the overall business environment. For entrepreneurs, this may mean easier start-ups, faster growth, and a friendlier regulatory landscape.