KRA Issues 30-Day Warning: Uncollected Goods to Be Auctioned

The KRA warns that uncollected goods at the Customs Warehouse from April 25 will be sold if not retrieved within 30 days. Auction dates are set for June 16-20, 2025. The items range from medical supplies to personal goods and vehicles. The notice signed on April 22 outlines the process and emphasizes the collection urgency.

In an urgent alert, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has warned owners of uncollected goods at the Customs Warehouse Keeper, Inland Container Depot, that they risk losing their property in just 30 days. According to a Gazette Notice released on April 25, if these items, collectively valued at billions of shillings, are not retrieved, they will be deemed abandoned and sold at public auction.

The notice specifies that unless the listed goods are claimed and removed within 30 days, they will be auctioned on June 16-20, 2025. “PURSUANT to the provisions of section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 as amended (EACCMA, 2004), notice is given that unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody… they will be treated as abandoned,” the notice outlines.

The range of items includes a variety of goods such as fibre optic cables, rice, Ivermectin injections, and various medical equipment. In addition, personal items like wheelchairs, household goods, vehicles of different brands—like Iveco and Mazda—alongside electronics, garments, bicycles, and even tea processing machinery are all on the list.

Moreover, there is a plethora of other items such as power cables, non-woven fabrics, powered generators, and solar-powered systems including kits, inverters, and lanterns. Notably, construction materials like oil well cement and various ceramic goods are mentioned too.

George Aduwi, Chief Manager at the Inland Container Depot, signed off the notice on April 22, emphasizing the urgency of collection. The notice also states that prospective buyers can inspect the items on specified days in June, before the auction date.

Goods often end up orphaned in container depots primarily because importers fail to pay necessary customs duties or taxes. In some cases, logistical hurdles like transportation issues compound the problem, leaving importers unable to retrieve their items promptly.

The KRA’s warning highlights the risk of losing valuable goods left unclaimed for too long at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot. A stricter timeframe of 30 days has been established, following which items will be auctioned off. Importers must ensure timely payment of duties and address logistical challenges to prevent forfeiture of their property. Significant categories of goods at risk include medical supplies, personal items, electronics, and various building materials, reflecting the diverse nature of items typically imported.

Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke