Beginning October 1, 2025, clearing goods at Mombasa Port has not been business as usual. Whether you are a large manufacturer importing heavy machinery or an individual entrepreneur bringing in a single container of clothing, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) now requires one key document before clearing your goods: a Certificate of Origin (CoO). For decades, the certificate was necessary only if an importer wished to benefit from lower tariffs under a trade agreement like the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, or the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Most shipments passed through…
Author: By Daniel Ngumy and Faith Chelangat
Cargo Vessel Mv X-Press Kilimanjaro at the port of Mombasa.[FILE] Beginning October 1, 2025, clearing goods at Mombasa Port has not been business as usual. Whether you are a large manufacturer importing heavy machinery or an individual entrepreneur bringing in a single container of clothing, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) now requires one key document before clearing your goods: a Certificate of Origin (CoO). For decades, the certificate was necessary only if an importer wished to benefit from lower tariffs under a trade agreement like the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, or the African Continental Free…