Nairobi City County Government has introduced a new electronic system that will allow entrepreneurs to obtain a single permit for their businesses, instead of applying for multiple licenses.
The Unified Business Permit (UBP) regime, which was activated on January 1, 2024, combines the business, fire, food, health, and advertising licenses into one and is available on the NairobiPay Revenue service online portal.
The UBP is part of an ease-of-doing business reform initiative that was promised by Governor Sakaja Johnson in his manifesto. The governor said the UBP will enhance public service delivery, reduce revenue leakage, and boost the county’s own source revenues (OSR).
“We continue to make Nairobi Work, and I am glad that the UBP has now been activated as part of a deliberate effort to improve the ease of doing business parameters in this city. This electronic solution eliminates the issuance of multiple business permits in various service points, which has also been a key revenue leakage risk,” Sakaja said in a press release.
He added that the UBP regime is expected to facilitate the collection of Kshs 20 billion in OSR, which will be used to fund development projects in the city.
“With the activation of the UBP issuance on the NairobiPay Portal, the county government is now on course to generate and reach its target of Ksh20 Billion in Own Source Revenues to fund development projects in the city,” he said.
The governor also announced that he has extended the land rates waiver until January 31, 2024, to encourage property owners to pay their dues. Customers can pay for their land rates using the NairobiPay Portal or dial *647#.
