The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is proposing to make a major change to how it tracks cargo. It aims to make the process more efficient, secure, and responsive to the needs of modern trade.
In recognition of changing business dynamics, technological progress, and growing demand, the authority is moving towards a multi-vendor, user-owned seals model.
This means that in the near future, businesses involved in moving both dry cargo and wet cargo will have the opportunity to own their own compliant electronic seals, sourcing them from a range of approved vendors.
The goal is to create a more flexible and resilient system that maintains the highest standards of security and auditability, while directly tackling practical challenges like ensuring seal availability and improving turnaround times for traders.
To guide this transition transparently, KRA is opening its doors to stakeholders for public participation. It has invited members of the public and potential technology vendors to participate in a virtual public engagement meeting in order to sensitize all parties and gather valuable input.
This evolution represents the latest chapter in a significant journey that began with physical customs escorts for goods, moved to tamper-proof seals, and then embraced a regional electronic system.
Today, that system, the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), a web-based cargo tracking and monitoring solution integrated with Customs management systems across the East African Community (EAC), has already proven its worth by slashing clearance times, boosting security, and bringing a new level of accountability to transit operations across East Africa.
