Kenya Demands Exporters’ Paperwork for Imports as Port Agents Push Back
Kenya · TRADE
Key Facts
- —The country Kenya, a nation of about 56 million on Africa’s east coast, is East Africa’s main trade gateway. Its economy, roughly US$125 billion in 2024 (World Bank), is about a thirtieth the size of Britain’s.
- —Why it matters The port of Mombasa handled 45.45 million tonnes of cargo in 2025 and also serves Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Congo, so Kenyan customs rules ripple across the region.
- —Why now Since 1 September, importers must hold an export document from the seller’s country. Clearing agents say vehicle releases stalled; the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the tax and customs agency, says the law obliges it to apply the rule.
- —What happened The rule comes from the Finance Act 2026 and Section 23B of the Tax Procedures Act. It adds to a certificate-of-origin rule enforced since 1 October 2025.
- —Who is involved KRA, its acting commissioner general Lilian Nyawanda, and the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA), the clearing agents’ lobby.
- —What it means for you Anyone selling goods or shipping a vehicle to Kenya should make sure the export declaration from the origin country travels with the paperwork, or expect clearance delays.
- —Still open Whether KRA formally grants relief for cargo shipped before 3 August, when the document was introduced, and whether it accepts vehicle export certificates as sufficient.
Kenya now wants proof from the seller’s own customs office before it clears imported goods. Clearing agents say the extra document has slowed cargo at Mombasa; the tax authority says the law leaves it no choice.
Kenya, East Africa’s main trade gateway, has added a second layer of paperwork for goods entering the country. The new Kenya import rules require importers to hold an export declaration issued in the country the goods come from.
The requirement took effect on Tuesday 1 September under the Finance Act 2026. Clearing agents at the port of Mombasa say it has slowed cargo, especially imported vehicles.
What the export declaration rule demands
Importers must obtain and retain an export declaration, export entry, customs export certificate or equivalent document issued in the country of export. It must name the exporter and importer and give the goods’ description, value, tariff code and origin.
KRA says the requirement rests on Section 23B of the Tax Procedures Act. Its stated aim is to check imported goods and the values importers declare for duty.
The document was introduced on 3 August alongside KRA’s Advance Cargo Declaration system for containerised cargo. That system asks for invoices, the bill of lading and the export declaration before goods are shipped to Kenya.
People Daily, a Nairobi newspaper, described it as a five-year document rule, meaning importers must keep the records for that long. That gives customs officers a long reach back into past shipments.
Clearing agents push back
On Monday 7 September, KIFWA, which represents clearing and forwarding agents, called the extra document unnecessary red tape. Agents argued that imported vehicles already arrive with an export certificate, which should be enough.
KIFWA director Ummulkheir Said told The Star, a Nairobi daily, that no vehicles had left Mombasa port or nearby container freight stations since the previous week. He asked KRA to release cargo shipped before 3 August.
Another director, Peter Wambua, warned that delays mean higher demurrage, the daily charges for cargo left too long at the port. Those costs, he said, end up with the agents’ clients.
Freight forwarders and car dealers also say the extra steps make an already costly import process slower and more expensive. The dispute overlaps with a separate court fight over how KRA values used cars.
KRA: the law leaves no room to suspend it
Lilian Nyawanda, KRA’s Commissioner for Customs and Border Control and its acting commissioner general, replied in a statement on 7 September. She said KRA is “mandated to implement and administer legislation enacted by Parliament.”
She added that the authority was working with affected businesses to limit disruption. The Eastleigh Voice, a Kenyan news site, reported that the rule stays in place while consultations with industry continue.
Agents later said KRA had agreed to release their vehicles, The Star reported. They added that no written notice had confirmed it, and no formal suspension has been announced since.
On the used-car valuation dispute, KRA declined to comment because the matter is before the courts. It has also defended stricter import valuation as a way to curb under-declaration by importers.
How the Kenya import rules changed in a year
The export declaration sits on top of an older requirement. Since 1 October 2025, exactly a year ago today, most imports have needed a certificate of origin from a competent authority in the exporting country.
That rule comes from Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, as amended by the Finance Act 2025. It took effect on 1 July 2025, with a transition period that ended on 30 September 2025.
KRA’s public notice exempts used goods and motor vehicles, personal baggage, postal parcels, temporary imports and non-commercial samples. If a certificate is missing, KRA may accept an export declaration or similar document pending verification.
Together, the two rules make documents from the seller’s country central to clearing goods in Kenya. A missing paper abroad can now hold up a container at Mombasa.
Why foreign businesses should care
Mombasa handled 45.45 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, up from 40.99 million tonnes a year earlier, according to The Star. The port also serves landlocked Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Delays there therefore reach well beyond Kenya. A stuck container ties up working capital and can disrupt supply chains for retailers and manufacturers across the region.
For a foreign exporter, the practical step is simple: send the export declaration with the shipping documents before the cargo sails. Used-car exporters are the most exposed, because vehicles sit at the centre of the stand-off.
Port congestion is a wider worry too. Kenya has also had to reassure traders that new radiation scanners will not slow the port, as covered in Kenya Tries to Calm Fears Radiation Scans Will Slow East Africa’s Main Port.
What to watch next
The first test is whether KRA offers relief for cargo shipped before 3 August. Clearing agents also want vehicle export certificates formally accepted as meeting the new rule.
Watch for KRA public notices clarifying which documents satisfy the Kenya import rules for each country. Smaller importers, with little leverage over overseas suppliers, are likely to feel the burden most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What document does Kenya now require for imports?
Since 1 September 2026, importers must obtain and keep an export declaration, export entry, customs export certificate or equivalent document issued in the country of export. It must show the exporter, importer, goods, value, tariff code and origin.
Is Kenya’s certificate of origin rule still in force?
Yes. Since 1 October 2025, most imports into Kenya need a certificate of origin from the exporting country. Exemptions include used goods, motor vehicles, personal baggage and postal parcels.
Why are Kenyan clearing agents protesting?
The clearing agents’ association, KIFWA, says the extra document adds cost and delay, and that vehicles already carry export certificates. The Kenya Revenue Authority says the law obliges it to apply the rule.
Sources
- The Star: KRA defends new import rules (7 Sep 2026)
- The Star: Clearing agents fault KRA over new rules (9 Sep 2026)
- The Eastleigh Voice: KRA defends cargo clearance rule (7 Sep 2026)
- People Daily: KRA warns importers as new 5-year document rule takes effect
- KRA: mandatory certificate of origin on imports (public notice)
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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