Public Participation on amendments to the Uniform County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act, 2024 Bill.

The Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project sponsored and participated in a nationwide public participation exercise to gather input on the proposed amendments to the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Act, 2024.

The consultations were held across 10 regional blocks and brought together County Governments, Business Membership Organisations (BMOs), Private Sector and Civil Society organisations, National Government Administration Officers, and the Council of Governors as part of ongoing efforts to create a simpler, faster and more predictable licensing system for businesses across Kenya.

The exercise enabled stakeholders to share experiences and offer recommendations on the proposed amendments, which aim to address implementation gaps identified after the enactment of the Act and the subsequent County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Regulations, 2025. The reforms aim to strengthen transparency, accountability, consistency and digitalisation while making it easier for businesses to start, operate and expand across all 47 counties.

A key proposal is to introduce a single operating licence to replace the multiple county licences currently required for related business activities. In addition, the reforms support the rollout of the Kenya Investment Single Window (KISW), a digital platform that will enable investors to apply for business registration, tax identification, permits, and county licences through a single online portal, rather than interacting with multiple government agencies.

Through Component 1, KJET supports reforms that improve the business environment, reduce unnecessary administrative barriers, and make it easier for investors and MSMEs to operate, grow, and create jobs.