Nairobi cracks down on underage alcohol sales with tougher licensing rules
Nairobi County is preparing to enforce stricter rules on alcohol sales, particularly targeting wine and spirits outlets that may be selling drinks to underage customers. A new bill, the Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Bill (Repeal), 2025, is under review by the Sectoral Committee on Culture and Community Services to address these issues and introduce tougher enforcement measures.
Official records on liquor licensing in Nairobi remain unclear. As of February 2026, neither the Nairobi County Government nor the Kenya Revenue Authority has published detailed annual statistics on approved or revoked alcohol sales licenses from 2021 to 2025. While county gazettes contain this information, it is not easily accessible online.
The push for reform follows reports of non-compliance with age restrictions, with some retailers, especially those selling wine and spirits, facing accusations of selling alcohol to minors without proper checks.
If passed, the new bill would introduce tighter controls on alcohol distribution in Nairobi. The county will need to improve transparency in licensing data to ensure compliance. Authorities have yet to confirm when the revised regulations will take effect.
