The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will auction 314 vehicles and 223 containers that are being held at the Port of Mombasa over tax on June 23 and June 24, 2021.
KRA Coast Region Coordinator Joseph Tunoi described this week’s auction as “historic”.
“We should understand not all cargo is being auctioned because owners have failed to pay taxes but some are unclaimed due to tight security by the government agencies to seal off illegal importation,” he told the media.
The regional coordinator said the vehicles are being held at various container freight stations and the containers, which have assorted household items such as clothes and shoes, are being held at the customs warehouse within the Port of Mombasa.
Tunoi said they have set the two-day auction to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
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The clearing will be majorly for containers that have overstayed at the port to ease congestion and encourage efficiency and facilitate trade.
Consolidated cargo comprises majority of lots slated for auction, which are linked to small traders who import using proxies posing as clearing agents and either swindle them or take long before paying the requisite fees to clear cargo.
Owners of the goods identified for auction are allowed to take part in the auction process.
Employees and close relatives of the Kenya Revenue Authority are not eligible to take part in the auction process.
Officers from the valuation branch are invited to assess individual values for each of the items on the list.
The full customs value (Cost, Insurance, Freight (CIF) price) is usually taken as the value but if the goods have deteriorated, the value may adjust accordingly. Duty liable for the said item is also taken into consideration.
KRA expects to raise between Ksh.150 million and Ksh.200 million from the auction.
