KRA Seizes Over 21,000 Undeclared Smartphones at Eldoret Airport

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers at Eldoret International Airport have intercepted a massive shipment of undeclared high-end smartphones, highlighting ongoing efforts to tackle tax evasion.

The 21,600 phones were valued at Ksh 16,102,137 in unpaid taxes.

The consignment was part of a larger shipment that included 5,000 declared smartphones worth Ksh 6.4 million, along with shoes, clothes, auto spare parts, household items, and other electronic accessories.

KRA said the interception came after an intelligence report flagged the shipment for investigation.

The goods were consigned to Pemba Cargo Limited and declared by Portyard Limited through a cargo plane that landed on September 18, 2025.

“The declarations of the goods were done either expressly or under consolidated cargo under each category,” KRA stated.

Authorities warned that such schemes constitute a serious violation of the law.

“The tax evasion scheme is a contravention of sections 203 of the East Africa Community Customs Act, (EACCMA) 2004 which states in part that a person who, in any matter relating to the Customs makes any entry which is false or incorrect in any particular, or in any way is knowingly concerned in any fraudulent evasion of the payment of any duty commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars,” KRA said.

The authority added that its interventions are part of a wider strategy to ensure compliance with tax laws and safeguard fair trading.

“KRA is actively engaged in unearthing tax evasion schemes to boost tax revenue compliance as well as adherence to tax laws and procedures, hence ensuring fair trade is maintained within the market,” it said.

KRA has urged businesses to declare all goods accurately, stressing that failure to do so attracts severe legal consequences and undermines fair competition in the market.