The Kenya Revenue Authority's Customs and Border Control Department collected Ksh90.05 billion in September 2026, surpassing its monthly target of Ksh89.09 billion by Ksh965 million.

In a statement released on Monday, October 12, KRA said the result represented a performance rate of 101.1 per cent against the Treasury target and a 5.8 per cent increase on the Ksh85.15 billion collected in September 2025.

Imports drive the growthNon-oil revenue was the main contributor, bringing in Ksh57.20 billion against a target of Ksh55.42 billion, a surplus of about Ksh1.78 billion. The authority linked the performance to a 25.6 per cent jump in the overall value of imports during the month.

According to KRA, trade volumes rose across several cargo categories:

  • Bulk cargo grew by 49.2 per cent, led by imports of fertiliser, iron and steel, palm oil and rice.
  • Containerised cargo, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, rose by 8.2 per cent.
  • Imported motor vehicles increased by 8.1 per cent.

Reforms creditedThe taxman attributed the outcome partly to administrative changes at the border, including the Advance Cargo Declaration system rolled out in July, greater use of data in cargo risk management, faster processing of customs declarations and better targeting of high-risk consignments. KRA said the results underline the role of effective customs administration in facilitating legitimate trade while protecting government revenue.

The September figure continues a run of strong months for the department. Collections in July exceeded that month's Ksh86.16 billion target by Ksh6.37 billion, while June's Ksh89.1 billion had at the time been the department's highest monthly haul.

A bright spot in a difficult quarterThe customs performance offers some relief for the National Treasury, which is grappling with weaker domestic tax receipts. Exchequer data for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year show ordinary revenue of about Ksh655.8 billion between July and September, short of the Ksh714 billion target by Ksh58.2 billion, with PAYE, corporation tax and domestic VAT falling below expectations.

For ordinary Kenyans, the strong import numbers are a mixed signal. Higher imports of fertiliser and food staples such as rice suggest robust demand and supply in key sectors, but they also widen the country's import bill at a time when global oil prices are rising and the shilling is under mild pressure.

What nextKRA faces a steep revenue target for the full financial year and will be counting on customs and border collections to keep outperforming while it works to close gaps in domestic taxes. The authority is expected to publish its October customs figures early next month.

Photo: Andrew Thomas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0