KENYA · GUIDE 0007 · EDITION 4.2
Coriander Business Permits in Kenya: What to Check
Describe what you actually intend to do
A person growing dhania on a small plot, a trader buying from multiple farms, and a supplier operating a shop can face different questions. Write down the location, who owns or controls the business, water source, whether produce is sold at the farm or transported, and whether you intend to employ workers or export. Use that description when making enquiries. A list of common offices is not a licence and cannot establish your specific obligations.
Ask the county about the activity
Contact the relevant county office for the site and intended trading activity. Explain whether you will farm, operate a retail stall, distribute to kitchens or handle food in another way. Ask what approvals, inspections, fees or renewal dates apply to that precise arrangement. Request current written guidance and record the date, office, contact and response. If you change location or add a different activity, ask again rather than assuming an earlier response covers it.
Check water and land arrangements
Identify the actual water source and whether your use involves abstraction, a supplier connection or another arrangement. The Water Resources Authority provides water-use information; ask the authority or water service provider what authorisation, agreement or charges apply to your source and intended use. A landlord's permission to use land does not automatically answer the water question. Retain evidence of the land-use arrangement and any written authorisation that applies.
Consider business registration and tax
Choose a business structure after considering the facts and obtaining suitable professional guidance. Business Registration Service information is one route for company registration; it should not be read as a requirement that every grower incorporate. Ask KRA about tax registration, record keeping and invoicing, including whether eTIMS applies to your circumstances. Keep receipts and sales records while you seek clarification, and verify current rules directly rather than relying on old fee lists.
Keep an enquiry register
Make a table with the activity, authority, question, response, evidence, expiry and next review date. Distinguish an application from an approval and do not claim permission has been granted until it has. If an export opportunity arises, seek current destination and KEPHIS guidance before agreeing to ship; this guide does not establish export compliance. Requirements and fees can change, and local advice must be confirmed for the proposed operation.