The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Sh90.05 billion in customs revenue in September 2026, beating its target by Sh965 million, as a surge in the value of goods entering Kenya lifted collections and the taxman stepped up technology-driven customs controls.
The collection was 5.8 per cent higher than the Sh85.15 billion recorded in September 2025, a sign that trade activity has strengthened compared with the same period last year. Non-oil revenue, which accounts for the larger share of the total, reached Sh57.2 billion and surpassed its own target by Sh1.78 billion.
KRA attributes the growth to a 25.6 per cent increase in the value of imports. Bulk cargo led the surge, rising by 49.2 per cent, driven by fertilizers, iron and steel, palm oil and rice. These are goods that supply farms, construction sites, factories and household kitchens, which shows how closely customs revenue tracks activity in the wider economy.
Other cargo categories also posted gains. Motor vehicle imports increased by 8.1 per cent, while containerized cargo, which typically carries manufactured and consumer goods, grew by 8.2 per cent.
Beyond the headline numbers, the authority says it is strengthening compliance to protect its gains. It is leaning on technology-driven customs processes and has introduced the Advance Cargo Declaration, a measure meant to improve cargo risk management and curb revenue leakages, which can quietly erode the amount of tax that reaches the Treasury.
For a government that relies on tax collections to fund public spending, beating a monthly target is more than a statistical win. Customs revenue is closely watched because it reflects both the pace of trade and the efficiency of the systems that process goods at the border.
The September result, in short, offers a snapshot of an economy bringing in more goods, from fertilizers and steel to rice and cars, even as the taxman works to make sure every shilling due is collected. Whether the trend holds will depend on how import demand behaves in the coming months.
