The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has recovered Ksh452.5 million after uncovering a scheme involving irregular cargo clearance and revenue accounting.
In a statement issued on Thursday, March 19, the taxman said the scheme—unearthed during comprehensive internal audits—involved the irregular release of consignments without full tax compliance, leading to significant revenue losses for the government.
“The recovery follows comprehensive internal reviews and enforcement measures that exposed attempts to bypass established customs procedures, leading to the irregular release of consignments without full tax compliance,” read the statement in part.
KRA Recovers Ksh 452M, Revokes Licenses of 21 Clearing Agents
Acting swiftly to safeguard revenue, KRA launched targeted interventions that have already yielded significant recoveries while triggering far-reaching enforcement and disciplinary actions.
Central to the authority’s response has been firm regulatory action against clearing agents found to have participated in or facilitated the irregularities.
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KRA said it has taken decisive action against clearing agents and staff implicated in the malpractice.
As part of the crackdown, six staff members have been interdicted after they were found to have violated established procedures.
At the same time, 21 clearing agents linked to the scheme have had their licences suspended pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.
They have also been barred from undertaking customs operations.
The authority said it is continuing administrative and disciplinary processes, reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on misconduct, collusion, and abuse of office.
It noted that officers found culpable will face strict action in line with the law and internal regulations.
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DCI Officers Join KRA in Probing Involved Individuals
The taxman also revealed that the crackdown has sparked broader criminal investigations, with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) working closely with KRA to pursue all individuals involved in the scheme.
The probes target not only clearing agents but also importers and any other parties who may have participated in or benefited from the fraudulent activities.
KRA has emphasized that the recovery of Ksh452.5 million is only the beginning of a broader enforcement effort. Additional audits and compliance checks are ongoing to identify and recover any further revenue losses.
While reaffirming that legitimate trade will continue uninterrupted, KRA has urged importers to strictly adhere to official payment channels when remitting taxes and levies, warning that using any other channels may expose them to fraud and financial loss.
