(Nairobi) – Travelers entering Kenya will be required to declare information about their mobile phones and other electronic devices at entry points starting January 1, 2025. This new rule, announced by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), is part of a broader initiative to ensure tax compliance and to enhance oversight of mobile device imports and usage.
The new requirement, according to the KRA, is intended to improve the integrity and accountability of mobile device tracking in Kenya. Alongside travelers, all importers of mobile devices will also need to submit detailed records in the customs system, including precise quantities, model descriptions, specifications, and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers for all devices.
In a related measure, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) recently directed mobile network operators to connect only devices whose tax status has been verified against a CA-provided database. KRA’s Commissioner of Customs and Border Control emphasized that specific guidelines on how to input device details and IMEI numbers for individual users will be shared soon.
Under the new regulations, local device assemblers will also be affected. They must now register on the customs portal and submit detailed reports listing all devices assembled for the Kenyan market, along with their IMEI numbers. This move seeks to standardize and monitor the device assembly process within the country to align with the new compliance framework.
The CA also introduced provisions to verify mobile device tax compliance before purchase. This allows retailers and consumers to confirm a device’s compliance status using a system that will be made available by the CA.
A “graylist” will be created for devices that have not been registered for tax compliance, providing a temporary opportunity for distributors to regularize their status. Devices remaining unregistered beyond a grace period will be added to a “blacklist,” preventing them from accessing mobile networks in Kenya.
The CA clarified that these rules apply only to devices imported or assembled after November 1, 2024. Any devices already connected to networks by October 31, 2024, will not be affected by these new regulations.
Table: Key Dates for New Mobile Device Regulations in Kenya
| Date | Requirement |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2024 | Regulation applies to newly imported or assembled devices |
| October 31, 2024 | Devices on networks by this date exempt from new rules |
| January 1, 2025 | Travelers to declare devices upon entry into Kenya |