Kenya’s High Court has suspended the sale and delivery of alcoholic drinks through e-commerce apps, websites and other digital marketplaces in Nairobi unless sellers meet licensing, access and age-verification requirements, in interim orders that require buyers’ ages to be checked before they can enter a platform’s alcohol section, again before a purchase is completed and once more at delivery.
Justice David Mburu issued the orders on November 9 after certifying as urgent an application filed by David Biketi Wati against the County Government of Nairobi, the Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board and other parties. The court granted two of the application’s prayers on an interim basis pending a full hearing.
Under the orders, online platforms and vendors must hold the licenses required by law and list alcoholic drinks only in separate, access-restricted sections. Entry to those sections must be protected by secure customer authentication, such as a password or PIN, together with reliable age verification confirming that the customer is at least 18, and both checks must be completed before a user can enter. Croatia began requiring online alcohol buyers to prove their age through its state digital ID app in September.
A purchaser’s age must also be verified before a transaction is completed, and the age of the person receiving the order must be independently confirmed before the drinks are handed over. The court also barred advertising and promotion of alcohol through hyperlinks, interactive ads and other digital tools that send users to purchasing platforms without the required authentication and age checks.
The orders came days after Nairobi City County announced plans to bring online alcohol sales and delivery services under stronger oversight through a proposed Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Bill, 2026. Lydia Mathia, the county’s chief officer for trade and hustler opportunities, said the bill would strengthen licensing requirements and safeguards against irresponsible alcohol distribution. At the national level, a separate online safety bill proposes age checks for digital platforms.
The petitioner has two days to serve the orders on the respondents and interested parties, who then have seven days to respond. The case returns to the Milimani High Court on November 18 for confirmation of compliance and further directions, and the court warned that disobeying the orders could carry penal consequences.
Sources: Capital FM, The Star
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
