The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued a public notice announcing its intention to introduce a Permit Processing Fee for ICT equipment imported through the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS).

In a public notice on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the authority said the proposed rule applies to permits submitted through NESWS.

“The Authority hereby notifies all stakeholders, including members of the public, importers, exporters, customs clearing agents, licensees, and other participants in the ICT sector of its intention to introduce a Permit Processing Fee for permits processed through the KenTrade National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS),” the notice read.

The Cost of Compliance

Under the new proposal, the CA seeks to implement a tiered fee structure based on the nature of the import. The authority is proposing to charge Ksh 15,000 per permit for commercial ICT equipment and Ksh 5,000 per permit for personal ICT equipment.

CA  invited members of the public, importers, exporters, customs clearing agents, licensees, and other stakeholders in the ICT sector to submit their views on the proposal.

These charges are intended to cover a rigorous three-stage evaluation process consisting of checking, verification, and inspection.

Targeted Devices

According to the Authority, this oversight is essential to ensure that all devices, ranging from smartphones and laptops to complex telecommunications infrastructure, meet Kenya’s technical and regulatory standards.

“The permit issuance process entails the checking stage, which counterchecks whether the equipment is type approved, the verification stage, which confirms the licensing status of the consignee and other regulatory requirements as set by the Authority and the final inspection stage, which authenticates the quantities and the make and model of the equipment as detailed in the import declaration form,” CA stated.

The entire process from checking to final inspection is required to be completed within the shortest possible time to avoid demurrage costs to importers. This, therefore, requires substantial resources to sustain efficient operations.

The deadline for making submissions on the proposed fee is Thursday, April 30, 2026.

“The Authority hereby invites members of the public, customs clearing agents, licensees, and ICT sector stakeholders to submit written representations on the proposed fee on or before April 30th, 2026. All submissions should be sent via email to: [email protected],” the notice added.