The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a strong performance by its Customs and Border Control (C&BC) Department, which surpassed its revenue target to collect Kshs. 879.329 billion in the 2024-25 Financial Year.
The amount reflects an 11.1% growth rate, more than double the 4.9% rate recorded the previous year, and represents a performance rate of 105.9%.
This translates to an average daily collection of Kshs. 3.546 billion, marking a significant milestone in the authority’s revenue mobilisation efforts.
According to KRA, the growth was driven by both oil and non-oil taxes. Non-oil revenue rose by 10.3% to Kshs. 541.053 billion, while oil taxes increased by 12.5% to Kshs. 338.276 billion. A record monthly collection of Kshs. 82.554 billion was posted in January 2025, achieving a performance rate of 121.1%—the highest in the department’s history.
Import Duty registered an 18.3% jump to Kshs. 157.870 billion, with the agriculture and steel sectors recording remarkable growths of 67% and 39% respectively. Excise Duty also rose by 11.6% to Kshs. 125.3 billion.
The Railway Development Levy and Road Maintenance Levy grew by 15% and 50.9% respectively, with the latter’s surge attributed to an increase in rates from Kshs. 18 to Kshs. 25 per litre. Higher oil product volumes also played a role, with notable growth in petrol (10.7%), diesel (13.8%), and other petroleum-related imports (13.7%).
A reduction in import exemptions—particularly for sugar, rice, and cooking oil—by 37.4% helped boost non-oil revenue streams.
KRA credited its strong performance to enhanced customs enforcement and the deployment of data analytics for risk management. Illicit goods worth Kshs. 549 million were intercepted by the end of June 2025. Among the major seizures was a consignment of over 40,000 litres of smuggled ethanol hidden in molasses.
Increased vigilance at ports, tighter control of contraband trade, and sealing of revenue leakages helped fuel record collections, particularly in the Western and Rift Valley regions, where revenue more than doubled—rising by 122% and 117% respectively. Bonded facilities and port collections also recorded growth of 17% and 15% respectively.
Revenue per motor vehicle import rose marginally by 0.8%, aided by stricter enforcement on vehicle entries.
KRA also highlighted the success of its trade facilitation measures. A shift to centralized clearance processes led to a 62% reduction in cargo clearance times—from 110 hours to just 42 hours.
To bolster cross-border trade along the Northern Corridor, the authority established three new trade facilitation centres in Kainuk, Lodwar, and Kakuma in Turkana County—enhancing connectivity with South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
