Things to expect when shipping to Kenya

Things to expect when shipping into Kenya




This is a short list of things that I have gone through first hand



If you are shipping stuff to Kenya by sea or air, there are a few things you should expect



Firstly, most of the important information such as the processes, forms and the standardised customs rate are not widely available. You would need to really look hard on the KRA website to work out the details.



Secondly, if you are importing stuff worth LESS than $500 you do not need a clearing agent. You can clear your goods for yourself. What no one tell you is that the value on the receipt is not what they will go off…. They can decide that the value on the commercial invoice is too low and thus revalue the goods (Always upwards) making it such that you need a clearing agent.



Thirdly, it is unclear whether ‘ we cannot clear your goods today because KRA systems are down’ is a valid reason or an excuse. KRA system does go down a lot.



Fourthly, the clearing agent more often than not will amend the commercial invoice so that they pay less tax and pocket the difference. However, if KRA questions the ‘amended invoice’ you as the importer take the hit and they could mark your name on the system. If your name is ‘marked’ every time you import goods in your name they will be interested in investigating the value of your goods. So if they ‘uplift the value’ NEVER ship in your name again. Get a brother or a sister or someone else whose name you can use. Whatever, you do, do not lose sleep over it!



Fifthly, every night/day the goods are in the warehouse – they attract a warehouse storage fee.



Sixthly, they like dealing in cash for some reason.



And finally, customs in Kenya is not transparent. As long as you remember that and play in those lines you should be fine. But if you are fed up with them like I am you can always use the Somalis – they are more expensive but you are more in control of the costs.