New documentation rules signal tougher imports compliance - Business Daily

Kenya has implemented new import compliance requirements effective September 2026, through the Finance Act 2026. Importers must now obtain and retain export documentation issued by the exporting country's authority, including export declarations, certificates, or equivalents with key details. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) can reject claims lacking these documents, expand enforcement powers, and impose penalties. Additionally, KRA introduced the Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) platform, a digital system for pre-arrival cargo declarations, requiring importers to upload export documents and include the ACD reference on shipping documents.