The Kenyan Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced plans to auction various unclaimed goods currently stored at the Kilindini Customs Warehouse in Mombasa and the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi.
This comes as a result of the failure by some importers to clear their cargo within the mandatory 30 days, as stipulated by the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) of 2004.
In a notice published through the Kenya Gazette on Friday, January 2, the tax department issued a warning indicating that the goods would be considered abandoned if they failed to be cleared within the stipulated timeframe.
“Pursuant to the provisions under section 42 of the EACCMA Act, 2004, this is to inform that failure to clear and release the above-listed consignment from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper at the Inland Container Depot, Nairobi, within 30 days, shall result in the said consignment being declared abandoned and sold by public auction as required by the Act,” the public notice announced.
As stated by KRA, the public auctions of goods stored in the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi will occur between February 9 and February 13, 2026, while auctions of goods in the storage warehouse in Mombasa at the Kilindini warehouse will happen on February 16 to February 20, 2026.
The variety of the items for sale represents the diversity of the imported products that have overstayed their welcome in the customs facilities. The items for sale are industrial machines, construction materials, ceramic tiles, plastic granules, sewing threads, second-hand garments, as well as fruit/nut/vegie machines.
Certain consignments are particularly noteworthy. These include the milling plant for chicken feed and inverters. They highlight the extent and value of the consignments yet to be collected.
In Port Mombasa, the cargo that has not been claimed includes electronic equipment, rolls of woven carpets, ceramic tiles, granules of plastics, and different machinery.
At the same time, the goods in the Nairobi warehouse include Brazilian white and brown sugar weighing in at many kilograms, light poles, float glass, construction materials, as well as lab equipment such as ergonomic stools and chairs.
The consignments from Nairobi also consist of home electronics, which include refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioners, televisions, photocopiers, and printers. Further, there is a long list of construction materials such as building structures, polypropylene ropes, as well as cigarette consignments.
KRA has given prospective buyers a chance to view the items on February 5th and 6th, 2026, during scheduled working hours at the respective storage facilities. Online auctions are available for buyers seeking a convenient method of participation.
According to the authority, these type of auctions are among its strategies aimed at decongestion at the storage facilities and ports, disposing of overstayed goods, and raising funds from unclaimed goods. KRA engages in regular public auctions through which the abandoned goods are disposed of in a manner that facilitates trade flow in the strategic points of entry in the country.
