KRA Unveils Online Auction to Sell Overstayed Cargo in Mombasa

The Kenya Revenue Authority has launched an online auction to sell cargo that has overstayed at the Mombasa port.

The auction started on Monday, August 14, and will last seven days.

Motor vehicles, household goods, spare parts, and construction supplies are among the items up for auction.

“KRA is running an Online Auction to sell overstayed cargo at the Port of Mombasa. The Auction is running from Monday 14th August 2023 to Sunday 20th August 2023.

“To bid, log in using your KRA iTax PIN and iTax Password,” KRA said on social media.

Goods to be auctioned were stored in customs areas, including the port Container Freight Station and transit go-downs, for longer than the time limit.

A list is created that includes the description of the items, the owners’ names and addresses, and the actual location of the commodities. The goods are then physically inspected to confirm the details and descriptions, and lot numbers are assigned.

This list is then sent to government printers, along with a notification requiring importers to enter and remove the products within 30 days. Otherwise, the products will be auctioned at a public auction on a particular date.

The Kenya Bureau of Statistics conducts a second, more extensive evaluation of the listed commodities once the notice is published in the Kenya Gazette.

The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, Port Health Pharmacy, and Poisons Board will assess their eligibility for sale in Kenya.

If they are determined to be unfit, they are condemned to be destroyed and cannot be sold.