Kenya: KRA opens electronic tracking of goods to 15 private operators

Kenya Revenue Authority | Port of Mombasa | RECTS | maritime transport

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By: Drafting

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19 September 2026 / 07:00

Kenyans-receiving-services-at-the-Kenya-Revenue-Authority-headquarters.-PHOTO-KRA

The Kenyan Tax Authority (Kenya Revenue Authority, KRA) will gradually abandon its own electronic seals in favour of a system open to 15 private suppliers. The reform concerns goods under customs control, including through the port of Mombasa to several markets in East and Central Africa.

Announced on 11 September 2026, the reform provides for the gradual end of electronic seals provided by KRA by 26 October. From that date, importers, exporters, carriers, customs agents and freight forwarders, as well as bonded warehouse operators, may choose their supplier from among the 15 authorised operators.

The equipment will be owned and maintained by these providers, who will directly establish their commercial conditions with the users.

The system will operate as part of the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RCTS).

Electronic seals allow customs authorities to track cargoes on authorized routes and detect, inter alia, manipulations, unauthorized openings, prolonged stops or deviations of routes.

The device covers dry goods as well as liquid cargoes, in particular petroleum products. KRA will maintain regulatory oversight and suppliers will have to meet technical, IT security and integration requirements in the regional system.

The reform is taking place as volumes through the port of Mombasa progress. In 2025, the port handled 45.45 million tonnes, compared to 40.99 million in 2024. Transit traffic increased by 19.5% to 15.88 million tonnes, while containerized traffic rose by 5.5% to 2.11 million TEUs.

A significant part of these goods are destined for Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Somalia.

The availability of seals is thus an operational element of Mombasa and the North Corridor. KRA indicated that the new model should expand access to equipment and help to reduce the availability of equipment.

For operators, the transition period now involves selecting a supplier and setting up the necessary technical and commercial arrangements before 26 October.