NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced plans to introduce body-worn cameras for Customs and Border Control officers in a move aimed at improving transparency and accountability during inspections at airports, seaports, and land border points.
The authority said the technology will help address frequent disputes between officers, travellers and importers during tax assessments, baggage inspections, and customs clearance procedures.
“For too long, ‘it’s been your word against mine’ has been an uncomfortable reality at border points. Disputes dragged on, trust eroded, and officers doing their jobs right had no way to prove it,” KRA said in a statement.
Improving transparency at busy entry points
According to the tax authority, customs officers interact with thousands of passengers, traders and clearing agents daily, making border points among the most visible government service areas.
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), for instance, about 20,342 passengers pass through the airport daily, translating to more than 8.9 million travellers annually as of 2025.
KRA noted that the sheer volume of interactions can sometimes overwhelm available manpower and create opportunities for disputes over duties charged or baggage inspections.
Under the new plan, body-worn cameras will record real-time interactions between customs officers and travellers, generating verifiable digital records that supervisors can review whenever complaints arise.
Tackling bribery and misconduct
The authority said the recordings are expected to deter bribery, tax evasion, and misconduct, since both officers and travellers will know their interactions are being documented.
“Customs is one of the most human-facing departments. Every day, officers interact with thousands of travellers, importers and traders. These interactions shape perceptions of Kenya, of governance and of fairness,” the authority said.
KRA added that the recordings will help eliminate long-standing challenges where investigations rely solely on conflicting accounts from officers and travellers.
Faster investigations and improved service
With the new system, complaints that previously took weeks of internal investigations could be resolved faster by reviewing recorded footage of inspections and tax enforcement activities.
The technology will also help standardise procedures at entry points handling international passengers and cargo, ensuring more structured interactions between travellers and officers.
Part of wider revenue enforcement efforts
Beyond accountability, KRA said recorded footage will also be used for training and institutional learning, helping the agency identify operational gaps and improve officer conduct across airports, seaports and land border posts.
“Beyond accountability, the footage becomes a tool for institutional learning. KRA can identify process gaps, improve training and fine-tune service delivery where it matters most,” the authority said.
