County Governments to Roll Out Digital Business Licensing by 2025

All 47 Kenyan counties will implement unified digital business licensing platforms by December 2025 under a new Council of Governors directive. The system, integrated with the national eCitizen portal, will allow entrepreneurs to register and renew permits in under 24 hours. Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kiambu are piloting the program in Q2 2024. The move targets Kenya’s 7.4 million SMEs, many of which cite bureaucratic delays as a top constraint. The World Bank is funding backend integration, while KEPSA provides private sector feedback. Expected outcomes include higher revenue collection, reduced corruption, and improved ease of doing business rankings. Micro-businesses with annual turnover under Ksh1 million will pay flat annual fees of Ksh1,000.