Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is Kenya's national revenue and customs body, whose Customs & Border Control department is responsible for clearing imports and exports, collecting customs duties, import VAT and other charges, and enforcing trade and border controls. It administers Kenya's tariff under the East African Community (EAC) Common External Tariff and the EAC Customs Union rules.
Imports are cleared through Kenya's customs system (iCMS / integrated with the Kenya TradeNet single window), and require an Import Declaration Form (IDF) and, for many goods, a Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) certificate and KEBS standards compliance. As Kenya is the largest economy in East Africa and the gateway to the region (via Mombasa, serving landlocked neighbours like Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan), KRA's procedures and the EAC framework shape trade for Kenya and the wider region. For anyone importing into or exporting from Kenya, understanding KRA is essential to clearance and compliance. It governs Kenya's borders and trade revenue.
KRA governs all Kenyan trade — duties, VAT, the EAC Common External Tariff, the IDF, and KEBS/PVoC conformity — and because Kenya is East Africa's gateway (via Mombasa to landlocked neighbours), its procedures shape regional trade too. Understanding KRA and the EAC framework is fundamental to clearing goods in and through Kenya.
What tariff does Kenya apply?
The East African Community (EAC) Common External Tariff, under the EAC Customs Union, administered by KRA Customs.
What is needed to import into Kenya?
An Import Declaration Form (IDF), clearance via the customs system/TradeNet, and for many goods a PVoC certificate and KEBS standards compliance.