Items Kenyans Must Declare While Entering the Country From Abroad
The ongoing discussion surrounding the taxes imposed on goods brought to Kenya after international travel has prompted the tax authority to outline the requirements for Kenyans returning from abroad.
All goods, both new and old, that are entering the country must be declared according to regulations. This pertains to products that are intended for business purposes, as well as items that have been bought from duty-free shops while travelling on planes or ships. The quantity limits for specific goods, such as perfumes, spirits, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, and toiletries have been outlined in the guidelines.
Under Kenyan guidelines, it is required to declare all gifts intended for family members and close relatives when entering the country. Moreover, any amount above Sh1.5 million (USD 10,000) in terms of currency and monetary instruments must also be declared. While bringing in filming equipment, full customs duty is applicable and a fee of 1% of the total value or Sh30,050 (whichever is lower) will be charged. However, personal items like clothes and stuff used domestically are not subjected to any such compulsions and Kenyan nationals could bring them along with comfort.
If spirits are one litre or less, there is no charge for customs and if wine is two litres or less, the same holds. Moreover, up to 250 grams of tobacco, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, snuff, and cigarettes can be free from the same duty charge. Finally, for travellers carrying inherited items not meant for selling, there will be no customs duty charged.
Comments (10)
Who else gets so anxious when they land at JKIA? That airport is a traumatic experience and is contributing to a lot of revenue loss from tourism because of the harassments travelers experience when going through customs. I have also being asked for money when departing which really threw me off. Why?
@Kathy: For me I usually anticipate some kind of corrupt deal and it has never failed to happen. It has involved paying $25 instead of the $50 for a visa, filling some forms that allows me entry as a Kenya citizen, and paying a fraction of imports into the country taxes. It is sad to see how much the country loses in tax revenue at that airport through corruption. Wakenya tulikosea nani?
When Kenyans who live abroad return to Kenya for visits, they go to spend money and they should be valued like those other foreign tourists. Why are they being targeted?
In addition to the millions Kenyans in diaspora pour in to the local economy.
'Diaspora tax'~ Nothing but money grabbing administration with miserable services.And they are saying it's your choice to carry on these expensive apparels.
Once I was drugged by the custom officials and robbed by merchandise from UAE. You must travel in groups to avoid issues as there are working to steal at the same time.
Once I was drugged by the custom officials and robbed by merchandise from UAE. You must travel in groups to avoid issues as there are working to steal at the same time. I found myself waking up at the back of there office and was told to go home with whatever was left.
Really! What in the world is wrong with these people. They remove the joy of visiting home by overtaxing. In addition to sending billions to the country, we now have to declare our personal stuff! When I recently visited an European country, they did not even ask for any declaration or checked the bags. Ushered us in and out at the time of leaving with a smile.
We visiting Kenya will be feeding the lazy government whose duty is only roving around the country in gas guzzlers and choppers. Ruto and his uncouth clueless thieving appointees will tank our beautiful country. The punishment is to stop sending money to Kenya for at least three months. They will then think twice before they tax our underpants. Is this the best that the diaspora CS or representative (I forget her name as she does not represent me) do for the diasporans? Is that why she was appointed?
Courtesy of our very hardworking and incredibly creative MPs. They are now marketing our taxpayer-educated youth to work in foreign countries, leaving the taxpayer behind to take care of themselves for needed quality services.
The same MPs just enjoying life with a big spoon, driving around in gas guzzlers, making foreign trips to observe what others are doing, then do nothing at home to at least replicate what they saw.
Bure kabisa!