KENYA · TRADE
Key Facts
- —The country Kenya, on Africa’s east coast, runs Mombasa port, the sea gateway of a corridor to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Congo.
- —What happened On Monday 12 October, Kenya’s tax collector said customs raised Sh90.05 billion (about US$694 million) in September, 101.1% of target.
- —The numbers The target was Sh89.09 billion (about US$686 million), and collections were 5.8% higher than in September 2025.
- —The import surge Import values rose 25.6% and bulk cargo 49.2%, led by fertilisers, iron and steel, palm oil and rice.
- —The bigger picture Treasury data show ordinary revenue for July to September fell Sh58.2 billion (about US$448 million) short of plan.
- —Still open The tax collector has not given each product’s share, or how much of the rise came from prices rather than volumes.
Kenya customs revenue reached Sh90.05 billion (about US$694 million) in September, 1.1% above target, the Kenya Revenue Authority said on Monday 12 October. The tax collector also said the value of Kenya’s imports rose 25.6%, while bulk cargo such as fertiliser, steel, palm oil and rice rose 49.2%.
For US exporters and investors, the figures show demand for imported goods rising fast in Kenya, a key trade gateway for East Africa. They also show a government that needs every shilling, because its overall revenue for July to September still fell short of plan.
What the Tax Collector Reported
The Kenya Revenue Authority, or KRA, is the government agency that collects taxes and import duties on behalf of the National Treasury. Kenya customs revenue covers the duties, value-added tax and other charges levied on goods as they enter the country.
KRA said customs collected Sh90.053 billion (about US$694 million) in September, against a target of Sh89.088 billion (about US$686 million), The Star reported. All conversions use about 129.8 shillings to the US dollar on 12 October 2026.
That is a performance rate of 101.1% and a surplus of Sh965 million (about US$7.4 million) over target. Capital FM, a Nairobi broadcaster, carried the same figures from the KRA statement on Monday afternoon.
Kenya customs revenue was 5.8% higher than the Sh85.146 billion (about US$656 million) collected in September 2025. Revenue from goods other than petroleum reached Sh57.2 billion (about US$441 million), against a target of Sh55.42 billion (about US$427 million).
Why Kenya Is Importing More
KRA said the overall value of imports rose 25.6%, while bulk cargo, meaning goods shipped loose rather than in containers, rose 49.2%. Fertilisers, iron and steel, palm oil and rice drove most of the bulk increase, according to the statement.
Imported motor vehicles rose 8.1%, and containerised cargo, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, rose 8.2%. A twenty-foot equivalent unit is the standard measure of one small shipping container.
KRA also pointed to its Advance Cargo Declaration platform, launched on Monday 3 August for all containerised cargo bound for Kenyan ports. Exporters must upload the draft bill of lading, commercial and freight invoices and an export declaration when the cargo is loaded.
KRA said the platform and wider use of data to flag risky shipments help legitimate trade while protecting revenue. The export declaration from the seller’s country is part of Kenya’s tighter import document rules, which drew complaints from clearing agents and car dealers.
KRA answered those complaints in a clarification dated 7 September, saying the export declaration rule rests on Section 23B of the Tax Procedures Act. It added that a separate dispute over how it values imported vehicles is before the courts.
Customs Beat Target While Overall Revenue Lagged
The September beat came as overall revenue missed its target in the first quarter of Kenya’s fiscal year, which runs from July to June. National Treasury data reported by Business Daily on Sunday 11 October show ordinary revenue of Sh655.8 billion (about US$5.05 billion) for July to September.
That was 14.4% more than the Sh573.5 billion (about US$4.42 billion) collected a year earlier. Yet the newspaper put the shortfall against the government’s plan at Sh58.2 billion (about US$448 million).
Income tax brought in Sh297.9 billion (about US$2.30 billion) against a target of Sh323.3 billion (about US$2.49 billion), Capital FM reported on Monday. Import duty was the only major tax to beat its quarterly target, while excise duty fell Sh16.3 billion (about US$126 million) short.
Kenya’s debt bill explains why every shilling counts, because Sh1.7 trillion (about US$13.1 billion) of public debt falls due by June 2027. That is 12.7% of the Sh13.2 trillion (about US$102 billion) public debt, according to the Treasury’s latest annual debt report, Business Daily reported.
What It Means for US Readers
For US companies that sell into East Africa, rising Kenya customs revenue and a 25.6% jump in import values point to growing demand. US exporters shipping containers to Kenya must also file their documents on KRA’s advance declaration platform when the cargo is loaded.
For investors who hold Kenya’s government bonds, including dollar bonds sold to foreign funds, tax revenue is the first line of defence on repayment. A customs beat helps, but the quarterly shortfall shows the wider tax take is still behind plan.
KRA’s figures show bulk cargo, including fertiliser, palm oil and rice, grew fastest of the categories it listed. Vehicle imports and container traffic rose more slowly, by 8.1% and 8.2%.
What Is Not Known
KRA did not say which commodities contributed most to September’s collections, according to The Star. It also did not say how much of the import rise came from higher prices rather than larger volumes.
It is also unclear how much of the gain came from the Advance Cargo Declaration platform rather than from stronger demand. Whether the September surplus holds for the rest of the year depends on fuel prices, the shilling and demand at the ports.
More: Kenya news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much customs revenue did Kenya collect in September 2026?
Kenya customs revenue reached Sh90.05 billion (about US$694 million) in September, according to the Kenya Revenue Authority. That was 101.1% of the Sh89.09 billion (about US$686 million) target.
Which Kenyan imports grew fastest?
KRA said bulk cargo rose 49.2%, driven mainly by fertilisers, iron and steel, palm oil and rice. Vehicle imports rose 8.1% and containerised cargo 8.2%.
Did Kenya meet its overall revenue target?
No. Treasury data reported by Business Daily show ordinary revenue for July to September was Sh58.2 billion (about US$448 million) below plan. Kenya customs revenue still beat its September target.
What is the Advance Cargo Declaration?
It is a KRA platform, launched on 3 August, for all containerised cargo bound for Kenyan ports. Exporters upload the draft bill of lading, commercial and freight invoices and an export declaration at loading to get a reference code.
Does this affect US exporters?
US firms shipping containers to Kenya must use the Advance Cargo Declaration platform like all other exporters. Rising import values suggest demand is growing, while clearance rules are getting stricter.
Sources: The Star (Kenya Revenue Authority data), 12 October 2026; Capital FM (KRA statement), 12 October 2026; Capital FM (Treasury September revenue data), 12 October 2026; Business Daily (Treasury revenue data), 11 October 2026; Business Daily (Treasury debt report), 11 October 2026; Kenya Revenue Authority, Advance Cargo Declaration notice, 14 July 2026; Kenya Revenue Authority, clarification on cargo clearance, 7 September 2026; Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, 12 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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