The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has listed goods that importers cannot bring into the country under the Ksh2 million consolidated cargo clearance arrangement.
In a notice issued on Thursday, November 5, the authority identified 30 categories of goods that are either excluded from the framework or subject to conditions before they can qualify.
Among the items completely excluded are foodstuffs, smartphones, smartwatches, used clothes and shoes, televisions and ready-made garments.
The list also includes fabrics, cosmetics, beauty products, new shoes and sanitary ware. Importers dealing in these goods will have to use the applicable customs clearance procedures instead of the consolidated cargo arrangement.
Other items listed by KRA include motorcycle spare parts, cables, carpets, household linen, musical instruments and entertainment equipment.
However, some of the goods can still be cleared under the framework if they meet specific requirements.
KRA said items listed under categories 12 to 30 may be allowed as consolidated cargo provided their combined volume does not exceed five per cent of the total shipment volume, measured in cubic metres.
Importers must also declare the goods fully in their invoices, customs entries and importer lists, including the description and quantity of each item.
The authority said it would apply the relevant unit values when determining the customs value of the goods before approving them under the arrangement.
The notice comes after months of disagreements between KRA and small-scale traders over the valuation of consolidated cargo.
In September, President William Ruto directed the authority to reduce the general valuation benchmark from Ksh2.5 million to Ksh2 million following complaints from traders.
He also asked KRA to identify high-value goods that should not be covered by the arrangement.
