The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced the sale of goods left unattended to from two major ports in the country.
The ports mentioned by the revenue authority are the internal container depot at Embakasi and the Kilindini Port in Mombasa.
This was announced in two separate gazette notices on the 3rd of November 2023 for the two separate ports.
“Pursuant to the provisions of section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004, notice is given that unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the Customs Warehouse, Kilindini, within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice, they will be sold by public auction on 6th and 7th December 2023,” KRA noted, referring to the Kilindini Port where goods from 28 different containers were listed.
These goods listed by the revenue authority include electric motors, used clothing, flammable resin solution, wood, packaging materials, and motor vehicles.
Of note, the revenue authority also pointed out the date of arrival for most of these containers into the Kilindini port, with the earliest being on 10th of October 2021.
Additionally, KRA said in case the goods were not picked by the period stipulated, interested buyers were invited to the port to view the goods.
“Interested buyers may view the goods at CWHSE, Kilindini, on 4th and 5th December 2023 during office hours,” the gazette notice reads in part.
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Details of the Notice for Embakasi Depot
Similarly, goods from 29 containers were listed by the revenue authority for the internal depot at Embakasi.
The goods listed include confectionery, fiber optic cables, polyethylene, and motor vehicle parts.
“Pursuant to the provisions of section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, notice is given that unless the undermentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper, ICDN, within thirty (30) days of this notice, they may be sold by public auction on 4th, 5th and 6th December 2023,” the gazette publication cited.
Further, in the case that the respective owners of the goods did not show up, KRA invited interested buyers to visit the depot for viewing.
“Interested buyers may view the goods at Internal Container Depot, Embakasi on 30th November and 1st December 2023, during office hours,” stated the gazette notice.
Importers Affected by the KRA Notice
Of note, the gazette announcement does not only affect people in Kenya, but residents of East African Community.
This is because Kilindini port is among the main ports in Mombasa.
Notably, the Port of Mombasa is the gateway and exit point for cargo belonging to a vast hinterland that include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.
Further, the internal depot at Embakasi also serves landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Notably, the inland port was created to bring port services closer to customers and reduce port congestion at the Mombasa Port.
It is linked to the Mombasa Port container terminal by a rail-trainer service on the Mombasa to Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway line.
Imports are delivered directly from Mombasa to the depots on a Through Bill of Lading, while exports can also be consolidated at the ICD and railed to the Port for shipping.