The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced that, starting October 1, 2025, all consignments imported into the country will be required to have a Certificate of Origin (COO). 

In a public notice on Tuesday, September 23, KRA said the directive is anchored in Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, CAP. 469B, as amended by the Finance Act, 2025. 

The authority noted that importers and customs clearing agents will now be required to provide a COO issued by a competent authority in the country of export.

“The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) hereby notifies all importers, customs clearing agents, and the general public that, in compliance with Section 44A of the Tax Procedures Act, CAP. 469B (as amended by the Finance Act, 2025), all consignments imported into Kenya must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin (COO) issued by a competent authority in the country of export,” read the notice in part.

The taxman said the requirement took effect on July 1, 2025, but the authority provided a transition window of up to September 30, 2025, to allow importers to adjust to the new rules.

 KRA also said provisional measures have been introduced to accommodate exceptional cases where a COO may not be available at the time of importation.

In such cases, KRA said importers may provide an origin declaration with origin details, an export permit or license issued by the exporting country’s competent authority, a customs export declaration, or a PVOC issued by authorized agents of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). 

Further, the authority said some categories of imports are exempt from mandatory COO submission.

This includes: goods imported by privileged persons and institutions, used goods, including used motor vehicles, personal baggage, personal effects, mailbags and postal parcels imported by post, human remains, and imported samples of no commercial value.

Others are: temporary imports, small packages of medicaments under a doctor’s prescription, and individual packages that do not exceed the weight and value as outlined in Regulation 119(3) of the East African Community Customs Management.

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This comes days after KRA issued a final notice to transporters conveying transit goods and other commodities under customs control.

In a statement on Monday, September 22, KRA reminded all transporters operating under the East African Community Customs Management Act that they must renew their licenses for the year 2026 to continue operations.

The authority specified that the notice applies to vehicles conveying transit goods (C28) and vehicles conveying other goods under customs control (C40), as provided for in Section 244 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, and Regulations 164 & 210 of the East African Community Customs Management Regulations, 2010.

Transporters are required to submit comprehensive documentation, including copies of motor vehicle log books, valid insurance certificates, and COMESA Yellow Card coverage for foreign vehicles.