Sakaja Faces Pressure as Nairobi’s Sh100,000 Online Liquor Licence Sparks Traders’ Outcry
Election
Originally published by Kahawatungu — Read the original article →
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is facing renewed scrutiny over liquor licensing after the introduction of a Sh100,000 licence for online alcoholic drinks sales triggered concerns among retailers about rising compliance costs and uncertainty over how the new charge will be applied.
The controversy centres on a new online alcoholic drinks licence under the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2026. Traders are questioning why businesses that already pay applicable county licensing fees should face an additional charge for selling alcohol through online shopping platforms, retailer websites and delivery services such as Glovo.
The concerns extend beyond the amount payable. Retailers want clarity on whether the fee applies to each business, each online sales channel or every platform through which customers place orders.
