Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has reported a significant boost in customs revenue collection for the fiscal year 2023/2024, amounting to Sh791.4 billion.

This marks a 4.9 per cent increase from the previous financial year, attributed largely to enhanced trade facilitation measures and technological improvements.

One of the key highlights of this period has been a 54 per cent reduction in the time taken to release goods from key entry points, such as the Port of Mombasa, Inland Container Depots, and Kenya Railways Corporation Sheds.

The average processing time has decreased from 112.6 hours in 2021/2022 to 51.43 hours in FY 2023/2024, a remarkable improvement that has significantly boosted trade efficiency.
According to data from KRA a major contributor to this efficiency has been the increased adoption of Pre-Arrival Cargo Processing.

The uptake of this process, which allows customs entries to be declared using the bill of lading before the cargo arrives, has risen from 25.28 per cent in FY 2021/2022 to 40.55 per cent in FY 2023/2024.

The improved systems capabilities of the Customs Integrated Management System (iCMS) have been instrumental in this advancement, enabling faster processing and clearance of goods.

Port of origin

All goods arriving at the Port of Mombasa are now inspected at their port of origin, ensuring compliance with regulations through the issuance of a Pre-Export Certificate of Conformity by licensed inspectors appointed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs).

The integration of KRA’s systems with the KenTrade Trade Facilitation Platform has further streamlined customs clearance procedures.

Through seamless sharing of critical import documentation and reduced human interaction, importers and customs clearing agents have seen reduced need for office visits, making the entire process more efficient.