The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has enhanced vigilance across all ports of entry in a bid to enhance compliance with customs regulations on restricted and prohibited items.
“We have further enhanced our processes through use of technology to aid correct identification and verification of all baggage and imported items,” KRA Commissioner General Mr. Humphrey Wattanga said, “Border control is a matter of national security and we are going to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure the public is adequately sensitized on requirements for entry into Kenya.”
The revenue authority says this enhanced vigilance follows an upward trend in entry of high-end mobile phones and non-declaration of prohibited and restricted goods such as guns, magazines, drones, pornographic material and narcotic drugs at various ports of entry.
- As part of the enhanced vigilance, KRA issued a notice earlier this month that travellers would have to pay customs on any household items worth more than $500.
- Although the Passenger Rules are not new, the enhanced enforcement has increased public angst with ongoing measures to enhance tax revenue collection.
- In early November, the ministry of tourism said the enhanced vigilance had amounted to harassment of tourists, which has in turn affected Kenya’s tourism sector.
KRA on average flagged 5 per cent of all scanned bags after scanning of all baggage from July to October this year.
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