KRA Makes Major Shift: Private Companies Now to Handle Cargo Tracking Seals at Mombasa Port

The Kenya Revenue Authority has announced a significant change that will affect businesses importing and exporting goods through Mombasa port. From October 26, the way cargo tracking seals work is going to be completely different, and companies need to start preparing now.

For years, the government has been the one providing and managing electronic seals used to track goods moving through customs. But this system has come with serious headaches. Traders and transporters have been dealing with long queues, frustrating delays, and costly operations mostly because there simply aren’t enough seals to go around. These shortages have become a real problem for business operations, especially at the busy Mombasa port.

KRA has decided to fix this by handing over seal management to private companies. The authority has approved 15 private vendors who will now supply electronic monitoring and tracking devices for goods that are under customs control. This is part of a bigger plan called the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System, or RECTS for short. The announcement was made on Friday, September 11, and it marks a major step forward in modernizing Kenya’s cargo handling system.

Here’s how it will work going forward. Instead of getting seals from the government, importers, exporters, clearing agents, transporters, and bonded warehouse operators will be able to choose their preferred vendor from the list of 15 approved companies. These private vendors will handle all the electronic tracking and monitoring of goods. The arrangements between these companies and the businesses using their services will be handled through regular commercial agreements meaning each party will negotiate terms that work for them.

The transition is happening gradually. The electronic seals that KRA currently owns will be phased out step by step, with everything supposed to be wrapped up by October 26. After that date, all cargo under customs control will be tracked using devices supplied only by these approved private vendors. There’s no going back after the deadline, so businesses really do need to sort out their arrangements now.

For anyone running an importing, exporting, or cargo handling operation, this is important news. You’ll need to identify which of the approved vendors suits your business best and get your agreements in place before the October deadline. If you wait too long, you might find yourself stuck without a vendor when the government seals are withdrawn.

The full list of approved vendors can be found on KRA’s website, at the Cargo Monitoring Unit located at Times Tower, or at other customs offices around the country. So if you’re in the business of moving goods through Kenya’s ports, it’s time to start making those calls and getting things organized.

KRA believes this change will lead to better service overall. By opening up the market to competition among multiple private vendors, there should be more seals available, shorter queues, and faster processing times. It’s a move away from the old system where shortages and delays were common problems that everyone just had to accept.

The shift represents a broader modernization of how Kenya handles cargo at its main seaport. The RECTS system covers electronic seals for both dry cargo and wet cargo so this applies whether you’re dealing with general goods or liquid products. It’s a comprehensive overhaul designed to make the entire customs clearance process smoother and faster.

For the logistics and trading community, this is a wake-up call. The clock is ticking, and businesses need to start their preparations immediately. Waiting until October will only create unnecessary stress and could disrupt operations. Those who plan ahead and secure their vendor relationships early will be in a much better position when the changeover happens.