Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

This paper gives an account of how the import licensing system in Kenya has developed up to and including the introduction of foreign exchange allocation licensing in December, 1972. This means by which different categories of imports are treated by the authorities are outlined and the theoretical implications of import restrictions discussed. It is postulated that import licensing is the major means of protecting local manufacturers in Kenya. So the appendix tables indicate the import licensing system has evolved to cover a large proportion of imparts entering Kenya. The paper is primarily descriptive and contains no results of empirical work related to this topic.