The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has set a new record by collecting Ksh85.146 billion in customs taxes in September 2025, the highest monthly figure.
The achievement announced on October 8 surpasses its previous monthly high of Ksh 82.554 billion, set in January 2025.
According to KRA, the September collections exceeded the monthly target of Ksh 81.341 billion by Ksh 3.806 billion, posting a performance rate of 104.7%.
The collections also mark a year-on-year growth of 18.8% compared to September 2024.
According to KRA, the performance was powered by strong returns from trade and petroleum taxes.
Why the Growth in Tax Collection
Trade taxes contributed Ksh51.737 billion, exceeding the target of Ksh50.739 billion and registering a 22.1% increase from the same period last year.
Petroleum taxes also showed remarkable results, hitting Ksh33.408 billion against a target of Ksh30.602 billion, a performance rate of 109.2%.
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The agency attributed the success to a series of tax system reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and closing revenue leaks.
Among the key changes is the implementation of a central release operations office, which enables head verification officers to operate from a central hub and allocate tasks randomly, thereby reducing human contact and potential manipulation.
KRA noted that the reform has also reduced cargo clearance turnaround times, boosting overall customs efficiency.
“These outstanding results underscore KRA’s unwavering commitment to continuously improving tax collection systems and processes,” the statement read.
The record-breaking performance is expected to support Kenya’s economic stability and contribute to the government’s fiscal goals.
30 Days to Clear Overstayed Goods or Face Auction
On October 6, the Kenya Revenue Authority issued a 30-day deadline for traders to clear goods that have remained uncollected at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi.
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In a gazette notice, KRA warned that any cargo left beyond the stated period will be considered abandoned.
Traders are required to declare and remove their items from the ICD within the 30-day window.
Should the goods remain unclaimed, KRA stated they will be sold off through a public auction scheduled to take place between November 10 and 14, 2025.
“In accordance with Section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 (as amended), this serves as a formal notice: unless the listed goods are entered and cleared from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper at the ICD in Nairobi within 30 days, they shall be treated as abandoned,” the notice partly reads.
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