The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted 40 iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max devices valued at approximately Sh8.2 million at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The phones were recovered from a passenger arriving from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), who had entered Kenya four times within nine days. The passenger admitted to carrying the phones as a courier for a client in Dubai, and the devices had not been declared to Customs.
According to KRA, all passengers arriving in Kenya are required to make customs declarations using the prescribed Passenger Declaration Form, also known as Form F88. The authority's guidance states that goods that should be declared include items intended for sale or business, goods imported for disposal to other people, and goods whose importation is regulated under customs or other applicable laws.
Effective January 1, 2025, passengers must declare the details and IMEI numbers of mobile devices intended for use in Kenya on Form F88. KRA notes that used personal items and effects are exempt from customs duties under the applicable passenger provisions. However, for new items, goods worth up to US$2,000 per traveler may qualify for an import-tax concession where they are for personal or household use and are properly declared.
Kenya operates a dual-channel passenger clearance system, with the Green Channel for passengers who have nothing to declare and the Red Channel for passengers carrying goods that need to be declared. KRA warns that passengers should make their declaration before the baggage scanning process, using Form F88 where applicable. Failure to declare or misdeclare goods contravenes Section 203 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004, and may face penal action.
The intercepted phones are subject to seizure or confiscation, and the passenger may face penalties for contravening customs regulations. KRA had previously announced that importers bringing mobile devices into Kenya are required to submit detailed import entries containing accurate quantities, model descriptions, and the respective IMEI numbers through the Customs system.
Mobile devices are subject to regulatory requirements administered by the Communications Authority of Kenya. A person bringing a commercial quantity of phones into Kenya should not treat the consignment in the same way as ordinary passenger baggage and should use customs procedures and engage a clearing agent to process import documentation electronically.
The October 1 incident comes against increased Customs scrutiny of mobile-phone imports, with KRA reporting another smartphone-related enforcement case at Eldoret International Airport last month. Travelers are urged to understand and comply with customs declaration requirements to avoid penalties and ensure smooth clearance of goods.
Key points
- Travelers must declare details and IMEI numbers of mobile devices intended for use in Kenya on Form F88.
- Goods worth up to US$2,000 per traveler may qualify for an import-tax concession if properly declared.
- Failure to declare or misdeclare goods may result in penal action, seizure, or confiscation of goods.
