Containers at the Port of Mombasa.
By James Kariuki
The Kenya Revenue Authority collected Sh90.05 billion in customs revenue in September, exceeding its target by Sh965 million as higher imports of fertiliser, steel, palm oil and rice boosted collections.
The Customs and Border Control Department surpassed the Treasury’s Sh89.09 billion target, recording a performance of 101.1 per cent for the month.
Collections rose by 5.8 per cent from Sh85.15 billion in September last year, according to a KRA statement.
The department, headed by Commissioner Lilian Nyawanda, attributed the performance largely to strong collections from non-oil imports.
Revenue from non-oil goods reached Sh57.20 billion against a target of Sh55.42 billion, a surplus of about Sh1.78 billion.
KRA said the overall value of imports increased by 25.6 per cent, while bulk cargo grew by 49.2 per cent. Fertilizer, iron and steel, palm oil and its fractions, and rice were among the commodities driving the increase.
The number of imported motor vehicles rose by 8.1 per cent, while containerized cargo, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, increased by 8.2 per cent.
“The performance was underpinned by strong growth in non-oil revenue collections,” the authority said.
The results point to the contribution of increased import activity to government revenue, with non-oil collections exceeding their target by a wider margin than overall customs receipts.
KRA said it was strengthening enforcement against illicit trade and revenue leakage while expanding the use of technology to improve compliance and cargo clearance.
“The Authority is also implementing reforms to make Customs operations more efficient, transparent and predictable for traders,” it said.
These include Advance Cargo Declaration and greater use of data to assess cargo risks, process customs declarations and identify high-risk consignments.
The authority said the measures were intended to facilitate legitimate trade while safeguarding revenue.
September’s collections add to customs revenue mobilised in the 2026/27 financial year, as KRA pursues reforms aimed at improving compliance and operational efficiency.
