NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has approved 15 private vendors to provide electronic cargo monitoring and tracking services, paving the way for the gradual phase-out of the authority’s own electronic seals.
The new system will cover goods under customs control, including dry cargo and wet cargo such as fuel, through the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS).
KRA said the shift to a private, multi-vendor model is intended to improve access to electronic seals, support port decongestion and give cargo operators greater choice.
KRA to phase out its electronic seals
The authority will gradually withdraw its electronic seals, with the transition expected to be completed by October 26, 2026.
After the deadline, electronic monitoring and tracking of goods under customs control will be carried out exclusively using devices supplied by the approved private vendors.
KRA said the new framework will operate under commercial agreements between the approved vendors and users.
“The framework shall be based on private commercial agreement between the approved vendors and users,” the authority said in a notice issued by the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control.
Importers to choose preferred cargo tracker
Under the new arrangement, importers, exporters, clearing and forwarding agents, transporters and bonded warehouse operators will be able to select their preferred approved vendor.
The multi-vendor model replaces the previous arrangement in which KRA provided its own electronic seals for cargo monitoring.
The authority said widening access to electronic tracking devices would support more efficient movement of cargo through the logistics chain while maintaining customs oversight.
Mombasa cargo volumes hit record high
The changes come as cargo volumes through the Port of Mombasa continue to rise.
The port handled a record 45.45 million metric tonnes in 2025, representing a 10 per cent increase from 40.99 million tonnes handled in 2024.
Container traffic also increased during the year, rising by 5.5 per cent to 2.11 million TEUs, compared with two million TEUs the previous year.
Transit cargo recorded an even sharper increase, growing by 19.5 per cent to 15.88 million tonnes, up from 13.29 million tonnes in 2024.
The rising volumes have increased the pressure on Kenya’s logistics infrastructure and reinforced the need for faster cargo clearance and movement.
Lamu port records sharp cargo growth
Cargo growth has also extended beyond Mombasa, with the Port of Lamu recording a significant increase in throughput.
Lamu handled 799,161 tonnes in 2025, up from 74,380 tonnes in 2024, with containerised cargo accounting for a substantial share of the increase.
The port also recorded 55,687 TEUs during the year as more shipping lines introduced regular services.
KPA managing director Capt William Ruto said the increased shipping activity was expected to support further growth in cargo volumes at Lamu in the coming years.
Kisumu cargo rises 55 per cent
At the Port of Kisumu, cargo volumes increased by 55 per cent to 496,516 tonnes in 2025, from 295,516 tonnes a year earlier.
The Kenya Ports Authority attributed the growth to infrastructure and operational improvements as it works to expand the facility’s capacity.
KPA is expanding berths and yard space, including berths 19B, 23 and 24, which are expected to create additional capacity of 1.4 million TEUs.
The authority is also upgrading its Terminal Operating System, which was 40 per cent complete, while automation of gates 23 and 24 had reached 60 per cent completion.
Private tracking model comes as cargo network expands
The transition to private electronic tracking therefore comes as Kenya’s port network handles increasingly larger cargo volumes.
By allowing users to choose from 15 approved vendors, KRA is seeking to create a more competitive electronic cargo monitoring market while retaining customs visibility over goods moving under its control.
The authority’s electronic-seal phase-out is expected to be completed by October 26, after which cargo operators will have to obtain tracking devices from the approved private providers.
