The Cost of an EIA License in Kenya in 2026

You’re probably at the planning stage of your development and putting together the licenses, permits, and documentation you’ll need before breaking ground. One of these requirements is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license, and you'll need to budget for it.

What is an EIA?

An EIA is a process used to assess a proposed project, for example, a commercial building, factory, hotel, school, warehouse, agricultural facility, road, housing project, or wellness center, to identify, predict, and mitigate its potential environmental risks. In practice, EIAs also address social impacts and are therefore commonly described as Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs).

In Kenya, according to the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA 1999, as amended in 2015, EIA experts registered and licensed by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) are the professionals tasked with conducting an EIA study. The report is submitted to NEMA for approval and subsequent issuance of a license, with conditions. In some cases, NEMA may reject your EIA license application.

Not every project requires the same level of environmental assessment. Depending on the project's classification and potential impacts, NEMA may require a Summary Project Report (SPR), Comprehensive Project Report (CPR), or EIA Study Report (SR).

Legal Notice 31 of 2019 lists some eligible projects or development, their level of risk, and the type of report NEMA expects. This list isn’t exhaustive, so it’s best to speak to an EIA expert when unsure to know if your proposed project requires an EIA and the right report.

How Long Does  an EIA Take in Kenya?

The time required to prepare an EIA report depends on the project's scope and the consultant's fieldwork and reporting requirements. This is separate from the time NEMA takes to review the application, adding to the total wait time.

NEMA takes  5 working days to process an SPR, 30 working days for a CPR, and 90 working days for an SR. It will take longer if the authority requires additional information before making a decision. NEMA advises proponents to apply for EIA licences at least three months before beginning the project. Applications for surrender, transfer and variation of an EIA licence take 14 working days.

How Much Does an EIA Cost in Kenya in 2026?

Budget for the EIA consultant's fees to conduct the study, the statutory fee paid to NEMA to process the EIA licence application, and some project-specific extra costs.

How Much Do EIA Experts Charge in Kenya and What’s Included In the Fee?

Professional EIA consultancy fees in Kenya vary. However, the cost of an EIA will commonly be calculated in three ways.

The EIA services quotation will most likely have one of the following: 

• An hourly rate
•  A percentage of the project cost
• Retainer fees

The quote is usually comprehensive, covering other costs like logistics, site visits, specialist investigations (e.g., hydrological and hydrogeological studies, air quality and dispersion modeling, biodiversity surveys, and cultural heritage and archaeological studies), laboratory testing, newspaper and radio notices, transport, public participation, and other project-specific requirements.

The consultant will quote after assessing the full scope of work.

How Much Does NEMA Charge for EIA License in Kenya?

According to NEMA's 2025–2027 Service Charter, NEMA charges an EIA processing fee of 0.1% of the total project cost, based on the certified Bill of Quantities (BQ). The maximum fee payable is capped at Ksh. 1 million for low-risk projects, Ksh. 2 million for medium-risk projects, and Ksh. 5 million for high-risk projects. Proponents pay a minimum fee of Ksh. 10,000. This statutory fee is paid via eCitizen. 

This means:

A project worth Ksh. 9 million should ideally pay 9,000,000 X 0.1% = Ksh. 9,000. However, the proponent will pay Ksh. 10,000, which is the minimum fee.

A proponent of a project worth Ksh. 90 million will pay 90,000,000 x 0.1%= Ksh. 90,000.

This means that the full EIA cost in Kenya includes the consultant’s fee, NEMA’s EIA processing fee, and detailed project-specific extra costs.

It’s worth noting that Kenya gazetted new Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Strategic and Integrated Environmental Assessments and Environmental Audits) Regulations, 2025. It introduced a different fee structure at 0.1% of total project cost, with tiered minimum fees according to risk. Ksh. 20,000 for low-risk projects, Ksh. 50,000 for medium-risk projects, and Ksh. 100,000 for high-risk projects. However, the 2025 Regulations were revoked.

Total EIA budget = Consultant's fee + NEMA statutory fee + project-specific additional costs

What Factors Affect the Cost of EIA in Kenya?

There is no fixed price for an EIA in Kenya.  A few factors affect the cost of EIA.

• Project size and complexity- Larger projects generally require more extensive assessment.
• Risk classification- Higher-risk projects can require more detailed studies.
• Location-Sensitive ecosystems or densely populated areas may require additional assessment; travel to distant locations may be costly.
• Specialist studies- You may need to contract hydrogeology, biodiversity, traffic, air quality, noise, and archaeology experts, if applicable.
• Public participation-More stakeholders can mean more meetings and engagement.
• Existing environmental information- Lack of baseline data may require additional fieldwork
• NEMA requirements- Additional information or studies may be requested during review.

Potential Additional EIA Costs

You must give your EIA expert all information necessary for the assessment of the scope of work. This way, in addition to NEMA statutory fees and the consultant’s fee, your EIA quotation will detail the extra scope-dependent costs and their particulars.

For example, if you’re already getting opposition on the ground with other stakeholders and the community, your expert may need to conduct additional site visits and stakeholder engagement meetings for further and more extensive consultations. This can increase the overall cost of the EIA.

The lowest quotation isn’t necessarily the best option. Ensure there are no hidden charges. The EIA quotation must be well detailed to avoid surprise costs. Exclusions should be revealed.

Costs of Implementing an EIA Report’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

There is a financial cost for implementing mitigation measures for environmental and social risks during the project's lifecycle. For instance, waste management. 

These are issues covered in the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), which forms part of the EIA report. An ESMP is your roadmap for sound environmental management during the project’s lifecycle, giving you details such as potential impact, mitigation measures, person responsible, and cost estimate. The cost of implementing an ESMP is different from the cost of an EIA. An EIA quotation covers the assessment and reporting process, and doesn’t include the cost of implementing every mitigation measure identified in the ESMP.

Get an EIA Quotation in Kenya Based On Your Actual Project

Planning a project in Kenya? Don't wait until construction starts. Contact us today for a free consultation and quote that reflects the size, nature, and sensitivity of your project. We’ll help you determine if an EIA is legally required, and detail all you need for a smooth process. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does an EIA cost in Kenya?

There is no fixed total price. The total depends on the consultant's professional fee, NEMA's statutory fee, and project-specific additional costs.

How much does NEMA charge for an EIA licence?

NEMA charges an EIA processing fee of 0.1% of the total project cost according to the BQ, paid via eCitizen. The minimum fee is Ksh. 10,000, and maximum fees are tiered, capped at Ksh. 1 million for low-risk projects, Ksh. 2 million for medium-risk projects, and Ksh. 5 million for high-risk projects.  

Is EIA mandatory in Kenya?

Legal notice 31 of 2019 lists projects that require an EIA in Kenya, categorized according to risk level. The list isn’t exhaustive, so speak to an EIA expert to assess if your proposed project requires an EIA. 

How long does an EIA take?

The time required to prepare the assessment depends on the project's scope and the consultant's work. Separately, NEMA's published processing timelines are 5 working days for an SPR, 30 working days for a CPR, and 90 working days for an SR.