The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced that its Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) will undergo scheduled maintenance on Sunday, October 12.
According to a public notice issued by the authority on Saturday, October 11, the exercise will begin at 4 am and end at 2:00 pm, lasting a total of eight hours.
During that window, the iCMS platform will be inaccessible to all users.
KRA Announces 8-Hour Scheduled Maintenance for ICMS
KRA has advised stakeholders to plan their operations accordingly, as the system will be temporarily unavailable throughout the maintenance period.
The taxman apologized for any inconvenience this maintenance may cause.
“Please be advised that there will be a scheduled maintenance of iCMS from Sunday, 12th October 2025, 6:00 AM to Sunday, 12th October 2025, 2:00 PM,” read the notice.
“Any inconvenience caused is highly regretted.”
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The ICMS is a key digital platform used for processing customs transactions. It plays a crucial role for importers, exporters, and clearing agents in managing customs procedures.
How ICMS Works
The system is central to the processing of documents for both the import and export of goods at various ports across the country.
By automating manual processes, reengineering workflows, and reducing reliance on multiple systems, iCMS significantly enhances trade efficiency and speeds up cargo clearance.
Introduced during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term, the system has become an essential component of Kenya’s trade logistics infrastructure.
Its temporary shutdown may affect importers, exporters, clearing agents, and other stakeholders in the trade and logistics chain.
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Despite its promising capabilities, the iCMS has faced numerous outages, which have had a major impact on the flow of goods in and out of Kenya.
In November 2024, a devastating five-day system outage at the Port of Mombasa led to substantial economic losses, with tea exports worth Ksh3.25 billion left stranded at port facilities.
These recent failures have led to calls from stakeholders for KRA to develop a backup cargo management system, one that could serve as an alternative in the event of another iCMS outage.
The system is expected to be fully operational once the maintenance exercise is complete.
KRA Sets New Record with Ksh 85.1 Billion in Customs Revenue
The scheduled maintenance follows a record-breaking performance by the tax authority, which collected Ksh 85.146 billion in customs taxes in September 2025 — the highest monthly figure ever recorded.
The achievement, announced on October 8, surpassed the previous monthly high of Ksh 82.554 billion, set in January 2025.
According to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the September collections exceeded the monthly target of Ksh 81.341 billion by Ksh 3.806 billion, reflecting a performance rate of 104.7%.
The collections also represent a year-on-year growth of 18.8% compared to September 2024.
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