7 KRA Customs Advisories For Those Travelling In And Out Of Kenya
KRA outlined essential information from its Customs desk that stipulates procedures that should be followed by Kenyans travelling into and out of the country
Marvin Chege 
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Friday, December 22 issued seven tax advisories targeting Kenyans intending to travel out of the country as well as those returning over the festive period.
In a notice, the taxman outlined essential information from its Customs desk that stipulates procedures that should be followed by Kenyans travelling into and out of the country, including items that should be declared before departure.
To begin with, KRA indicated that items intended to be returned to Kenya should be declared upon exit (Temporary export).
Immigration desks at JKIA. /KAA
These include but are not limited to: Cameras, and accessories for filming, Sporting equipment, Items exported for repair or alterations and Musical instruments.
Furthermore, all arriving passengers are required to make declarations using the prescribed Passenger Declaration Form(s) (Form F88).
"Passengers with accompanied luggage are exempted on their used personal items. However, used goods imported for commercial purposes attract taxes," read the advisory in part.
The taxman also advised travellers to only speak to uniformed Customs Officials within the baggage halls.
KRA affirmed that prohibited and restricted goods which include but are not limited to narcotic drugs, firearms, counterfeit currency, shisha are not allowed.
Customs Officers are permitted by the law to examine passenger's luggage and conduct body searches based on intelligence and profiled security information possessed by Customs officers.
"However, in the process of the body search, the officer will observe high standards of human dignity," added the advisory.
KRA also indicated that any foreign currency and monetary instruments exceeding 10,000 USD (Ksh1.5 million) or its equivalent must be declared at Customs upon arrival and before departure.
The advisory comes amidst widespread complaints regarding tourists being treated harshly by KRA officers on arrival in the country through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Some government officials including Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua lamented that the measures discourage them from coming back to Kenya, revealing that the officers at times resort to measures that infringe on their privacy while conducting checks on their luggage.
