Business

KRA threatens to auction overstayed goods at Nairobi warehouse

Sunday 24th August, 2025 02:59 AM| By Lutta Njomo

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has threatened to dispose of overstayed goods at its warehouses in Nairobi.

In a notice in the Kenya Gazette dated Friday, August 22, 2025, the taxman gave a 30-day ultimatum for people to claim the goods; failure to do so will result in them being deemed abandoned and then auctioned.

“PURSUANT to the provisions of section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 as amended (EACCMA, 2004), notice is given that unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper, Inland Container Depot, Nairobi, within thirty (30) days of this notice, they will be treated as abandoned and will be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of EACCMA, 2004 including being sold by public auction on 6th October 2025, 7th October, 2025, 8th October, 2025, 9th October, 2025 and 10th October, 2025 through an online portal https://ibid.kra.go.ke,” the notice read in part.

“Interested buyers may view the goods at specific locations indicated on 2nd October, 2025, and 3rd October, 2025, during office hour,” the taxman further indicated.

Part of the KRA notice announcing the intended auction of goods. PHOTO/Screengrab by PD Digital/https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/officialGazette/2025-08-22/178/eng@2025-08-22

The items

The goods include machines, household items, personal accessories, electricals, sugar for industrial use and textile products, among others.

In the notice, KRA gave a full description of the items to allow owners to claim them on time. Further, KRA clearly detailed a shipping line that delivered the goods that had overstayed at its depot.

Goods that remain at the Port of Mombasa and other facilities for too long take up valuable space, causing congestion and inefficiency. Auctions help clear these containers and vehicles.

Auctions ensure that the taxes and duties owed on the goods are paid, either by the original owner or by the new buyer. The proceeds from the auctions contribute to KRA’s overall revenue targets, particularly around the end of the financial year.

Nonetheless, the auctions are conducted in accordance with the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), which stipulates the procedures for dealing with overstayed goods.