Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has lauded the introduction of the LiquorPay online system while meeting with heads of the county’s Business and Hustler Opportunities sector.
The sector recently introduced the LiquorPay digital payment system, which allows liquor businesses to apply for and obtain their licences online, eliminating bureaucracy and streamlining the licensing process.
“The LiquorPay system continues to help seal revenue leakages in liquor business licensing. We have also seen an increase in licence uptake in the month of February, with over 1,000 additional licences issued, which is a significant improvement just a month after the launch of the LiquorPay system,” Sakaja reiterated.
Business and Hustler Opportunities CEC Dr. Anastacia Nyalita and Chief Officer Lydia Mathia said the introduction of the LiquorPay online platform has made it easier for entrepreneurs to start and run liquor businesses.
“You don’t have to pay anyone to process registration for you. LiquorPay is a fully digital platform that allows business owners to apply and pay for liquor licences online without physically visiting county offices,” Dr. Nyalita said.
Dr. Nyalita added that the platform is expected to significantly boost county revenue, similar to the Unified Business Permit (UBP) system that consolidated several licences into a single permit.
She noted that the new system replaces the previous manual process that required inspections and approvals before licensing — a procedure that often slowed down applications and created opportunities for inefficiencies.
The digital payment system, she explained, has already improved transparency for entrepreneurs by eliminating hidden charges and middlemen.
“LiquorPay eliminates hidden costs and allows business owners to project their cash flows with 100 per cent accuracy from the first day. With LiquorPay, all one needs is a laptop to log into the platform, describe the business, make payment online and print the licence,” Dr. Nyalita said.
She further explained that the system allows real-time registration through the county’s online portal.
“Once the inspection is completed and the premises approved, the applicant receives a full one-year liquor licence,” she added.
The LiquorPay system follows the successful consolidation of Nairobi County licences under the Unified Business Permit, part of the county government’s broader strategy to digitize services, enhance transparency and strengthen revenue collection.
Chief Officer Lydia Mathia, added that the digital platform also reduces risks associated with cash handling while improving efficiency in the licensing process.
