Kenyans and visitors travelling into the country may soon be allowed to carry goods worth more than the Sh75,000 (USD500) ceiling currently being implemented by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
This is after MPs in the National Assembly proposed an amendment to the East African Community treaty to have the ceiling raised to a higher figure in response to the ongoing public debate and criticism over the conduct of customs officials, especially those at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The proposal by the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee, also wants the limit on goods revised to conform to what it says are the current economic realities and to reduce the ongoing confiscation of goods by KRA officials.
Speaking during a debate in the House, committee chairman and Molo MP Kuria Kimani said that his committee will be moving a motion to compel the Treasury cabinet secretary to review the tariffs.
Kuria said that the motion will seek to amend the East African Community (EAC) Management Act, 2004 to raise the capping for inbound goods subject to taxation at the airport up from the current 500 US Dollars.
“It is an issue of law and that law is outdated. The limit of USD 500 is too little. It needs to be adjusted to come to terms with the current economic realities,” said Kimani.
Kimani made the revelations while responding to questions from members of the House on the action that his committee had taken in the wake of the growing criticism over the conduct of customs officials on Kenyan borders, including in airports.
During the debate nominated MP Irene Mayaka, had sought to know the legal basis upon which KRA had settled on the figure and measures that the taxman had put in place to prevent customs officials from arbitrarily enforcing the directive.
Kimani, in response, said the capping was informed by the EAC Customs Management Act, 2004, but indicated that the figure was unrealistic under the current economic realities.
He further indicated that the Committee had implored KRA to deploy modern scanning technology at the arrival terminus to prevent intrusive inspection of travelers’ items by custom officials.
Kimani added that KRA had pledged to sustain public sensitization campaigns on enforcement of the directive to prevent inconveniences and enhance customer care experience.
In her question, Mayaka indicated that enforcement of the directive had sparked widespread discontent and threatened to discourage foreigners from travelling into the country including tourists.
She noted that the directive also included basic household goods, some of them used, and that the matter had raised widespread discontent and threatened to discourage tourists intending to visit the country.
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