What the Unified Business Permit is
A single business permit is the annual licence a Kenyan county issues to allow a business to operate within its area. In Nairobi, this is the Unified Business Permit (UBP). The word unified matters: instead of chasing separate approvals for trade, fire, health and signage, the UBP brings them into one application and one certificate, which is simpler for the business owner.
The permit is tied to a specific business at a specific location and business category. The category (for example a general retail shop, an eating house, a salon, a wholesale store) and the size of the business determine the fee. A small kiosk pays far less than a large supermarket, so the fee is not a single flat figure.
The Unified Business Permit is an annual licence, so it must be renewed each year to stay valid. Operating without a current permit, or with the wrong category, risks penalties and enforcement, so keeping it current is part of running a compliant business in Nairobi.
How to apply for or renew a Unified Business Permit
Nairobi County business services are handled through eCitizen. Have your details ready.
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Step 1: Log in to eCitizen
Go to eCitizen and log in. Nairobi County business permit services are accessed through the platform.
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Step 2: Select the Nairobi County business permit service
Find the Nairobi County services and the Unified Business Permit (single business permit) application or renewal option.
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Step 3: Choose your business category and details
Select the correct business category and sub-category, and enter the business name, location, and size details. The category and size drive the fee, so choose accurately.
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Step 4: Review the assessed fee
The system assesses the permit fee based on your category and size. Review it before paying. Different business types have different fee bands.
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Step 5: Pay through eCitizen
Pay the assessed fee through the platform, usually via M-Pesa or card. Keep the payment reference.
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Step 6: Download the permit
Once processed, download the Unified Business Permit certificate. Display it at your premises as required and keep a copy for your records.
Common business permit mistakes
Choosing the wrong business category
The fee and the approvals depend on the category. Selecting a category that does not match your actual business can mean underpaying (and enforcement) or overpaying.
Letting the permit lapse
The permit is annual. Forgetting to renew leaves you operating unlicensed, which risks penalties and closure. Set a renewal reminder well before expiry.
Understating business size
Understating floor area, seats or staff to pay a lower fee is a false declaration that can be reassessed with penalties during inspection.
Operating before the permit is issued
Trading before the permit is approved and paid can attract enforcement. Apply before or as you open, not after a problem arises.
Not displaying the permit
Many counties require the permit to be displayed at the premises. Keeping it in a drawer can be a compliance issue during inspection.
A restaurant renews its Unified Business Permit
A restaurant in Nairobi has operated for a year on its first Unified Business Permit, which is due to expire. The owner logs in to eCitizen a few weeks before expiry.
She selects the Nairobi County Unified Business Permit renewal, confirms the business category (eating house) and the size details, and reviews the assessed fee, which reflects the restaurant seating and location.
She pays through M-Pesa on the platform, downloads the renewed permit, and displays it at the counter. Because she renewed before expiry, the restaurant never operated unlicensed, and there was no penalty or gap in compliance.
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Running a compliant Nairobi business, end to end
A business permit is one piece of compliance; KRA eTIMS invoicing is another. A Nairobi business needs both a current permit and the ability to issue compliant tax invoices on every sale.
Veira handles the sales side of compliance: a POS with M-Pesa payments, inventory and KRA eTIMS invoicing in one app with a free terminal, so once your permit is in order, your day-to-day selling is compliant too, from KES 2,999 a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Unified Business Permit?
How do I apply for a business permit in Nairobi?
How much is a business permit in Nairobi?
Is a single business permit the same as a Unified Business Permit?
How often do I renew a business permit?
What happens if I operate without a business permit?
The Unified Business Permit is Nairobi one-licence route to operating legally, and keeping it current with the right category is straightforward on eCitizen. With the permit in order, the next compliance piece is your sales: Veira gives you POS, M-Pesa and KRA eTIMS in one app, from KES 2,999 a month. See how Veira works.