KRA Set to Clear East Africa Transit Cargo in Naivasha

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced that all cargo destined for East Africa Community partner states will now be cleared at the newly established Naivasha Inland Container Depot, (NICD).

In a statement on Tuesday 26, 2020, KRA said that it has begun movement of transit cargo from the Port of Mombasa to NICD.

This means that owners of the affected cargo and their clearing agents will clear and pick their goods at the new facility.

The authority further said, the list of cargo that has been moved from the Port of Mombasa to the Naivasha ICD can be accessed on KRA’s website and will gradually be updated on a daily basis.

KRA noted that its office at the Naivasha ICD is now operational with a marshaling area having the capacity to hold 700 trucks at any given time.

This follows the official release of the first 200 TUEs cargo that was on transit to Uganda on May 7, 2020, an event that was led by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Mr. James Macharia together with a delegate of Government officials.

Mr. Macharia emphasized that the government of Kenya is committed to facilitating regional trade.

He added that the completion of the station would help in containing the spread of Covid-19 as track drivers will not have to go for the cargo in Nairobi or Mombasa.

KRA says it is well equipped to handle the huge capacity expected from Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi at the facility. The facility has a One Stop Centre (OSC) model where all key government agencies offer their services to clients.

Regional revenue authorities including Uganda Revenue Authority, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Tanzania Revenue Authority and Burundi Revenue Authority are also housed at the OSC. This model ensures a synchronized placement and verification process at the ICD.

The facility brings together various government agencies including Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, and Kenya Railways.