KRA Makes Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Mandatory From November 1

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will require digital marine cargo insurance for all imported goods from November 1, 2026, in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA). Importers and clearing agents must obtain policies from IRA-licensed insurers and transmit certificates through the Digital Marine Cargo Insurance System to the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) before submitting customs declarations. Shipments that fail to meet the requirements will be blocked from customs clearance. The measure comes amid wider changes to cargo monitoring and customs operations, including the planned phase-out of government-owned electronic cargo tracking seals by October 26.