The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has threatened to dispose of goods that have overstayed at their warehouse through a public auction.

Through the Gazette Notice dated Friday, August 23, 2024, the taxman indicated that the unclaimed goods are stored in various warehouses in Nairobi.

However, KRA made it clear that the said goods would be auctioned if the rightful owners fail to claim them in 30 days. The taxman has directed the interested buyers to visit their offices in Nairobi to view and bid for the goods.

“Pursuant to the provisions of section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, notice is given that unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of Customs Warehouse Keeper, Inland Container Depot, Nairobi, within thirty (30) days of this notice, they may be sold by Public Auction on September 25, 2024, September 26, 2024 and September 27, 2024 via online auction https://ibid.kra.go.ke/.

“Interested buyers may view the goods at the specific locations indicated on September 23, 2024, and September 24, 2024, during office hours,” KRA notice on the Kenya Gazette read in part.

Goods set auctioning

Most of the goods were shipped in the country before being transferred to Nairobi where respective businessmen were expected to claim them.

They include assorted beverages, fertiliser, donated medical equipment, glassware, bags of refined sugar, assorted clothing and steel coils.

Others are binding wire, vehicle spare parts, water meters, acid products, machines, furniture, baby carriers, solar accessories and pharmaceutical products among others.

KRA has further given details on the dates each consignment landed in the country and the consignee.

The exercise is meant to clear goods at the inland depot and allow the customs warehouse keepers to permit the offloading of new goods arriving in the country.

In previous exercises, KRA has even been forced to auction vehicles which had stayed at their depot across the country.