The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is overhauling its cargo monitoring system by moving to a "Multi-Vendor, User-Owned Seals" model.
- •This change is the latest phase in the evolution of the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), which has progressed over several years from physical customs escorts to electronic tracking.
- •Under the previous arrangement, the KRA was largely responsible for sourcing these digital tags from a limited number of suppliers, often restricting transporters and traders to devices provided directly by the tax authority.
- •The new model shifts ownership to the cargo handlers themselves, allowing them to purchase their own tracking devices for both standard containerized goods and liquid cargo, such as fuel and ethanol.
KRA hopes the move will foster competition, lower the cost of the devices for traders, and address long-standing issues regarding the availability of seals and delays in cargo clearance at the Port of Mombasa and other border points.
These digital seals serve as the primary security measure for goods passing through Kenya to neighboring countries. They provide real-time location data to a central monitoring center and are programmed to trigger immediate alerts if a container is opened or if the device is tampered with before reaching its destination.
