The Kenya Revenue Authority’s Customs and Border Control Department collected a record KSh988.8 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, surpassing its target as revenue from imports and cross-border trade increased.
The collection was above the KSh980.8 billion target, representing a performance rate of 100.8 per cent and a 12.4 per cent increase from KSh879.3 billion collected in the previous financial year.
KRA attributed the growth to increased cargo volumes, improved compliance, technology-driven processes, stronger risk management and cooperation with traders.
Customs also collected KSh89.1 billion in June 2026, its highest monthly revenue on record. The collections were supported by VAT and import duty on ordinary imports, the Road Maintenance Levy, Import Declaration Fees, Railway Development Levy and excise duty on imports.
“This historic performance demonstrates the effectiveness of our customs modernisation programme and our continued commitment to balancing trade facilitation with revenue mobilisation,” said Customs and Border Control Commissioner Dr Lilian Nyawanda.
The record revenue collection, however, comes amid complaints from motor vehicle importers over taxes and other charges that they say are pushing up the cost of imported cars.
Importers have raised concerns about KRA’s vehicle valuation system, arguing that some assessments result in inflated and unpredictable duty charges that are eventually passed on to buyers. KRA has previously defended its revised vehicle pricing framework, saying it was necessary to update values that had not been reviewed for several years.
Dealers have also complained about the combined effect of import duty, excise duty, VAT, the Import Declaration Fee, Railway Development Levy and other requirements, warning that the charges could make vehicle ownership unaffordable for more Kenyans.
KRA said it would continue modernising customs operations through its eCustoms mobile application, upgrades to the Integrated Customs Management System and the planned adoption of a blockchain-enabled digital trade platform.
The authority said the reforms would reduce paperwork, improve cargo visibility, speed up clearance and strengthen transparency and security in cross-border trade.
