Nairobi targets 30% rise in legal liquor businesses with new LiquorPay system

The end-to-end system automates liquor licence applications and payments, allowing traders to apply online without visiting county offices. Officials say the move is aimed at reducing paperwork, curbing the role of brokers and improving transparency in revenue collection.

According to County Chief Officer for Business and Hustler Opportunities Lydia Mathia, the platform enables applicants to register through the county’s online services portal, generate an invoice and pay via M-Pesa. Successful applicants receive a 21-day provisional licence pending inspection of their premises. Once approved, a one-year liquor licence is issued digitally.

The county says the system builds on the earlier consolidation of business licences under the Unified Business Permit (UBP), which brought multiple approvals under a single framework.

LiquorPay is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices. County officials argue that digitising the process will help entrepreneurs better predict compliance costs, shorten processing times and formalise more businesses.

The rollout comes amid ongoing efforts by the county government to streamline services and expand its revenue base by bringing more enterprises into the formal sector.