Updated 1 November 2026
A NEMA EIA licence (Environmental Impact Assessment licence) is required before you start any project listed in the Second Schedule of the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA), from apartments and petrol stations to factories and quarries. Under the EMCA (Strategic and Integrated Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Audits) Regulations, 2025 published by NEMA, the fee is 0.1% of the project cost, with a minimum of KSh 20,000 for low-risk, KSh 50,000 for medium-risk and KSh 100,000 for high-risk projects. A registered environmental expert prepares the report, and you apply online through the NEMA licensing portal on eCitizen.
Updated 1 November 2026 from the 2025 regulations on nema.go.ke and NEMA’s environmental licensing page. NEMA’s 2025-2027 service charter still quotes the older 0.1% / KSh 10,000 minimum, so confirm the exact amount on the NEMA portal when you apply.
NEMA EIA licence fees (2025 regulations)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Low-risk project (summary project report) | 0.1% of project cost, minimum KSh 20,000 |
| Medium-risk project (comprehensive project report) | 0.1% of project cost, minimum KSh 50,000 |
| High-risk project (full EIA study) | 0.1% of project cost, minimum KSh 100,000 |
| Strategic environmental assessment (policies, plans, programmes) | KSh 1,000,000 |
| Surrender, transfer or variation of the licence | KSh 10,000 |
| Annual environmental compliance audit | KSh 5,000 (low), 10,000 (medium), 20,000 (high risk) |
Source: EMCA EIA and Audit Regulations 2025, Fourth Schedule; NEMA environmental licensing page. There is no upper cap in the 2025 schedule.
Worked examples
- A KSh 15 million low-risk project: 0.1% is KSh 15,000, so you pay the KSh 20,000 minimum.
- A KSh 80 million apartment block assessed as medium risk: 0.1% is KSh 80,000, above the KSh 50,000 minimum, so you pay KSh 80,000.
- A KSh 2 billion factory classed high risk: KSh 2,000,000.
NEMA asks for a certified Bill of Quantities showing the project cost with each application. The fee goes to NEMA; your environmental expert’s fee is separate and negotiated with them.
Which report does your project need?
| Risk level (EMCA Second Schedule) | Report | NEMA timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Summary project report | Screening within 5 days; if NEMA does not respond within 30 days of submission, you may start |
| Medium | Comprehensive project report, with public consultation | Decision within 30 days; if no communication within 45 days, you may start |
| High | Scoping study, approved terms of reference, then a full EIA study report | Longer; includes public meetings and review |
NEMA can move a low-risk project up to a comprehensive report if it may have significant impacts, sits in an environmentally sensitive area, conflicts with zoning, or needs wider consultation.
What a summary project report must contain
- Nature of the project, with designs and plans signed by a practising architect or engineer
- Location and proof of land ownership
- Description of the surroundings and available environmental infrastructure (sewer, waste)
- Whether the project fits existing land use or zoning
- Impacts at each phase (planning, construction, operation, decommissioning) and mitigation measures
- An environmental management plan
- Evidence of public consultation: signed questionnaires, interview reports or minutes with attendance lists
How to apply for a NEMA EIA licence
- Hire a registered expert. Only a registered environmental assessment expert or firm may prepare and submit the report. Check NEMA’s experts register.
- Confirm the risk level against the EMCA Second Schedule.
- Consult the public and collect evidence.
- Submit online through the eCitizen-NEMA licensing portal with application Form 5, the report and the BQ.
- Pay the fee on eCitizen.
- Respond to NEMA queries quickly to avoid delays.
- Receive the licence (Form 6) with conditions, and follow them on site.
- File annual audits once the project is operating.
NEMA advises applying at least three months before you plan to start work.
Other approvals for a building or business
An EIA licence sits alongside county building approval, a county single business permit and sector licences. Factories also need KEBS certification (see the KEBS certification cost guide), and hotels need a NEMA “no objection” letter for their TRA licence. Register the company first; see the company KRA PIN guide.
Penalties and appeals
Starting a listed project without an EIA licence is an offence under EMCA, and NEMA can issue stop orders. If NEMA rejects your comprehensive project report, you can appeal to the National Environment Tribunal.
NEMA EIA licence: tips to avoid delays
Most delays come from incomplete reports, not NEMA’s review time. Before your expert submits, check that the drawings are signed, land ownership is proven, the public consultation evidence includes signed attendance lists, and the Bill of Quantities matches the project cost you declare. Under-declaring the cost to cut the 0.1% fee is risky: NEMA can ask for a certified BQ and reject the application.
Once issued, the NEMA EIA licence comes with conditions, such as dust and noise control during construction, waste handling and sometimes a requirement to report progress. Keep a copy on site; county and NEMA inspectors often ask for it. If ownership of the project changes, apply to transfer the licence (KSh 10,000 under the 2025 schedule).
Frequently asked questions
How much is a NEMA EIA licence?
Under the 2025 regulations, 0.1% of the project cost with minimums of KSh 20,000 (low risk), KSh 50,000 (medium) and KSh 100,000 (high risk). Confirm the amount on the NEMA portal.
How long does NEMA take to issue an EIA licence?
Low-risk reports are screened within 5 days; medium-risk decisions are due within 30 days. High-risk studies take longer.
Who can prepare an EIA report?
Only a NEMA-registered environmental assessment expert or firm.
Can I start if NEMA does not respond?
The 2025 rules allow a start after 30 days of silence on a summary report and 45 days on a comprehensive report.
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