The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has introduced a new system aimed at reducing queues and facilitating border clearance.
In a press release dated November 24, 2025, the Authority announced the launch of the eCUSTOMS mobile application, designed to modernize and digitize customs processes. This initiative will help decrease clearance times and minimize long queues at Kenya’s busiest border points.
The new system was unveiled on November 24, 2025, at the Busia One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the British High Commission (BHC). Officials described this launch as a significant milestone for enhancing regional trade efficiency.
KRA Unveils eCUSTOMS App for Faster, Paperless Border Clearance
Dr. Lilian Nyawanda, Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, stated that the eCUSTOMS solution would ease cross-border trade and create a more conducive business environment by simplifying customs declarations and modernizing border operations.
She stressed that the platform enables paperless, seamless processes, providing traders with faster, more accessible, and transparent services. Dr. Nyawanda also mentioned that the authority would continue to invest in technology to ensure that border processes remain efficient and user-friendly.
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The app offers a paperless, faster, and more user-friendly method for customs declarations, benefiting traders, truck drivers, transport operators, and passengers who frequently travel the Kenya–Uganda trade corridor.
According to KRA, the eCUSTOMS app is expected to significantly reduce the time and costs associated with border transactions.
At the Busia OSBP alone, the platform is expected to reduce cumulative truck waiting time by up to 1,200 hours per day, saving an average of 1 hour per truck. Small-scale traders, many of whom are women and youth, are expected to save around KES 750 per declaration, which is a substantial benefit for those who cross the border multiple times each day.
The app is available on both Android and iOS platforms.
How the App Works
The new system enables the following :
– Small-scale traders to self-declare cargo using simplified digital forms.
– Passengers to pre-declare goods and baggage before arrival for faster clearance.
– Truck drivers and transport operators to manage empty truck declarations and toll collections.
– Fast-track processing for goods valued at USD 2,000 or less, which will enhance SME activity.
Further, KRA stated that the launch of the app builds on a 15-year collaboration between them, the UK, TMA, and KRA aimed at improving regional trade systems. TMA Board Chair and former Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Hailemariam Boshe praised the app as a significant advancement towards deeper regional integration.
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British diplomat Dr. Ed Barnett MBE, Chargé d’Affaires at the UK High Commission in Nairobi, noted that the solution directly supports the “hustling backbone” of Kenya’s economy, its small businesses.
The eCUSTOMS app is also expected to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving the efficiency of trade flows between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the broader region. The platform will be applicable at all border-crossing points, offering unified digital support for traders moving goods across.
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