Businesses involved in the movement and storage of goods under Customs control will have to shift to privately supplied electronic seals by October 26, 2026, following KRA's approval of 15 vendors to provide cargo monitoring and tracking services.
The Kenya Revenue Authority said it will gradually withdraw the electronic seals currently owned by the Authority and replace them with devices supplied by approved private providers under a new Multi-Vendor User-Owned Framework.
The framework will operate through the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) and will give users the option of selecting their preferred vendor instead of relying on KRA-issued seals.
Those covered by the new arrangement include importers, exporters, transporters, clearing and forwarding agents and bonded warehouse operators.
KRA said the approved services will cater for electronic monitoring of both dry and wet cargo, as well as e-fuel seals.
The Authority said the change has been introduced to respond to changing business needs and rising demand for cargo monitoring services.
“This model is intended to support the port decongestion initiatives as well as democratise access to the seals,” KRA stated.
Under the new framework, users will deal directly with the vendors through private commercial agreements. This means businesses will be free to compare and select any of the 15 providers approved by KRA to supply the required electronic tracking devices.
“This Framework shall be based on private commercial agreements between the approved vendors and users. Users are at liberty to select any of the approved Vendors,” KRA explained.
KRA said its existing RECTS electronic seals will not be withdrawn at once, but will instead be removed in phases until October 26.
“Subsequently, the electronic seals presently owned by KRA under RECTS will be gradually phased out up to 26th October, 2026. Thereafter, the electronic monitoring and tracking of goods under Customs control shall be undertaken exclusively by means of devices supplied by the approved Vendors in line with the Multi-Vendor User-Owned Framework,” it added.
Once the transition is complete, goods under Customs control will be monitored and tracked only through devices provided by the approved private vendors.
The Authority said the new system is expected to provide businesses with more options when seeking electronic monitoring services while allowing the 15 approved firms to compete for users.
KRA has asked importers, exporters, transporters, clearing and forwarding agents, bonded warehouse operators and other stakeholders affected by the changes to make the necessary arrangements before the October 26 deadline.
The Authority said details of the approved vendors can be accessed through the KRA website, the Cargo Monitoring Unit on the 13th Floor of Times Tower and other Customs offices.