The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is relying heavily on its marine enforcement unit to ensure that cross-border trade rules are observed and that revenue from trade activities across Lake Victoria is increased.
KRA Western Region Head Dominic Keng’ara during a media interaction on the operations of the marine unit said that the unit is indispensable in the region where it is basically closing loopholes which traders use to deal in uncustomed goods.
For Keng’ara, the marine team’s intensified patrols have already significantly contributed to increased revenue, thus the Authority has been able to collect KSh 1.6 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year. He was looking forward to more funds being collected through continued surveillance and interactions with regional security agencies.
“The marine unit is our pivot in implementing existing cross-border trade laws. Monitoring is our next step to keep in check the trade activities and revenue will be generated from them,” Keng’ara explained.
Operating on Lake Victoria and other inland waterways, the marine enforcement unit is tasked with the interception of illegal trade routes, stopping of tax evasion, and the creation of easy cross-border trade conditions for traders compliant with the law.
Besides that, KRA is also implementing technology and regional cooperation with the authorities within the East African Community (EAC) to ease customs operations and border points.
The government’s emphasis on marine operations is part of the bigger plan to widen the tax base and recover revenue that is lost through smuggling and under-declaration of goods.
