The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is ramping up efforts to promote intra-African trade and strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading exporter. This initiative focuses on reducing business costs and improving compliance with trade regulations, aiming to unlock more opportunities for local traders.
In line with the celebrations of International Customs Day 2025, KRA has intensified awareness campaigns to highlight the potential benefits of Kenya’s trade environment, with an emphasis on supporting stakeholders. By offering enhanced resources and clearer guidelines, KRA is determined to help Kenya maximize its trade advantages.
A key highlight of the initiative is the establishment of a one-stop-border post, which has set a high standard for regional trade efficiency. This system has already led to a 50% reduction in clearance times, increased trade volumes, and fostered stronger regional cooperation through streamlined border management processes. Additionally, about 30% of Kenya’s customs revenue is now contributed by Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs), and KRA aims to expand this share by including more compliant businesses, particularly in warehousing and the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sectors.
Despite the current economic challenges, the Customs department successfully collected Sh794 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year, reflecting a 5% growth in revenue. For the ongoing 2024/2025 period, KRA has already raised Sh429 billion.
KRA attributes this growth to its customer-centric and efficient services, which have significantly reduced the time it takes to clear goods at major hubs like the Port of Mombasa, Inland Container Depots, and Kenya Railways Corporation facilities. These efforts have resulted in a 54% faster turnaround time for goods clearance.