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📋 County Guide · Updated Jan 2026

How to Register a Business in Nakuru — 2026 Complete Guide

3–7 working days
UBP from KSh 5,000
Verified 2026 Finance Bill
Direct Answer · Updated Jan 2026

How long does a Nakuru Business Permit take in 2026?

Getting a Unified Business Permit (UBP) in Nakuru takes 3–7 working days through the NakuruPay Citizen Portal (payments.nakurupay.com). Nakuru rolled out the UBP regime in 2025 following Nairobi's lead — one permit now combines business, fire, food, health and advertising licences, replacing the old multi-permit system. Fees start from KSh 5,000, depending on business category and ward. Nakuru's elevation to city status in 2024 reshaped some fee brackets, particularly within the CBD. Verify your category before paying.

Processing Time
3–7 Days
SBP (Small Biz)
KSh 5,000+
M-Pesa Paybill
Via NakuruPay portal
Apply on NakuruPay →

Step-by-Step Application Process

  1. Register Your Business — BRS registration via eCitizen. You need a Certificate of Incorporation or Business Name Registration.
  2. Obtain a KRA PIN — Confirm your PIN is active on iTax. Required at every step.
  3. Create a NakuruPay Citizen Account — Visit payments.nakurupay.com and register using your ID number, phone, and email. Choose your OTP verification method (SMS, email, or both).
  4. Login & Select Unified Permit — From your dashboard on the CIFOMS (County Integrated Financial Operations Management System), select Unified Business Permit.
  5. Enter Business Details — Fill in business name, KRA PIN, physical location (ward, building, plot), business activity category, and number of employees. Category determines fee bracket.
  6. Upload Documents — (a) Business Registration Certificate, (b) KRA PIN Certificate, (c) National ID, (d) Lease Agreement or Title Deed, (e) Passport-size photograph.
  7. Receive Invoice — The portal calculates your fee and generates an invoice automatically. Review carefully — Nakuru's city status revisions changed several brackets.
  8. Pay via M-Pesa, Bank, or Card — Through the integrated payment system on the portal. Save the receipt.
  9. Download Your UBP — Once payment clears, the Unified Business Permit is available for download. For food, health, and hospitality businesses, an inspection follows before final activation.

Physical Office Locations

  • Nakuru County Treasury — Revenue Office [VERIFY LOCALLY]Government Road, Nakuru CBD
  • Naivasha Sub-County OfficeNaivasha Town
  • Gilgil Sub-County Office [VERIFY LOCALLY]Gilgil Town Centre
  • County Helpdesk (in-person UBP support)Nakuru City Hall, Kenyatta Avenue
  • Nakuru County Customer ServicePhone: (051) 2214142 · Email: info@nakuru.go.ke
Expert Pro-Tip

Nakuru rolled out the UBP regime only in 2025 — many accountants and cyber café operators are still filing under the old Single Business Permit framework, which the system rejects. Always confirm you're applying through the Unified Business Permit workflow on NakuruPay, not the legacy SBP forms. Also: Nakuru's 2024 city status upgrade revised several CBD fee brackets — the portal calculates automatically, but if you previously held an SBP under the old tier, the new UBP fee may be different. Verify before paying.

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Expert Intelligence · Nakuru County

Did You Know? Nakuru Replaced the Single Business Permit With a Unified Business Permit in 2025.

Following Nairobi's January 2024 lead, Nakuru consolidated five separate licences — business, fire, food, health, and advertising — into a single Unified Business Permit. Most Nakuru accountants are still filing under the old SBP framework, causing application rejections. Add to that the 2024 city status upgrade, reshaping CBD fee brackets, and many small businesses end up either paying the wrong tier or restarting their applications from scratch.

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