The collections were 5.8 percent higher than the Sh85.146 billion collected in September 2025 The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Sh90.05 billion in customs revenue in September, exceeding its target by Sh965 million as a growth in imports boosted collections.
Data released by KRA on Monday shows that Customs and Border Control collections reached Sh90.053 billion against a target of Sh89.088 billion, translating to a performance rate of 101.1 percent. The collections were 5.8 percent higher than the Sh85.146 billion collected in September 2025, sustaining the authority’s strong revenue performance in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Non-oil revenue was the main driver of the growth, with collections reaching Sh57.199 billion against a target of Sh55.422 billion, exceeding the target by Sh1.778 billion. KRA attributed the performance to a 25.6 percent increase in the overall value of imports, with bulk cargo rising 49.2 percent.
The increase in bulk cargo was driven mainly by imports of fertilisers, iron and steel, palm oil and rice, among other commodities, pointing to higher volumes or values of goods entering the country. Imports of motor vehicles also increased by 8.1 percent, while containerised cargo handled through twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) rose 8.2 percent.
The growth in customs revenue comes as the government continues to rely on tax collections to finance public expenditure and narrow its budget deficit. KRA said it was strengthening customs enforcement and using technology to improve compliance, curb illicit trade and prevent revenue leakages.
The authority is also implementing reforms aimed at making customs operations more efficient and predictable for traders. These include the introduction of Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) and greater use of data to assess cargo risks, speed up customs declarations and identify high-risk consignments.
KRA said the reforms were intended to facilitate legitimate trade while protecting government revenue.