Yes, Customs Officers are permitted by the law to examine passenger?s luggage and conduct body searches when it is deemed necessary.

Yes, there are passengers exempt from luggage examination and body searches like Diplomats and other privileged persons

In order to identify the frequent short visit passengers the Customs Officer also generally scrutinizes the passport and other travel documents of the passengers. The declaration of goods and their values is generally accepted and duty assessed. On payment of this duty the passenger is allowed clearance.

The provisions setting out restricted item for import/export are set out in the 2nd and 3rd Schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act. They include but are not limited to:-

• Postal franking machines except and in accordance with the terms of a written permit granted by a competent authority of the partner state.
• Traps capable of killing or capturing any game animal except and in accordance with the terms of a written permit granted by the Partner state.
  Unwrought precious metals and precious stones.
• Arms and ammunition specified under Chapter 93 of the Customs Nomenclature.
•  Ossein and bones treated with acid.
• Other bones and horn-cores, unworked defatted, simply prepared (but not cut to shape) degelatinized, power and waste of these products, Ivory, elephant unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, teeth, hippopotamus, unworked o simply prepared but not cut to shape, ivory powder and waste, Tortoiseshell, whalebone and whalebone hair, horns, antlers, hoover, nail, claws and beaks, unworked or simply prepared but not otherwise worked shells or molasses, crustaceans or echinoderms and cattle-bone.
•  An unmanned aerial vehicle, for example, drones.
• All goods the importation of which is for the time being regulated under this Act or by any written law for the time being in force in the Partner State.

The provisions setting out prohibited items for import/export are set out in the 2nd and 3rd Schedule of the East African Community Customs Management Act. They include but are not limited to:-

• False money and counterfeit currency notes and coins and any money not being of the established standard in weight or fineness.
  Pornographic materials in all kinds of media, indecent or obscene printed paintings, books, cards, lithographs or other engravings, and any other indecent or obscene articles.
• 
  Matches in the manufacture in which white phosphorous has been employed.
• 
  Any article made without proper authority with the Armorial Ensigns or Court of Arms of a partner state or having such Ensigns or Arms so closely resembling them as to be calculated to deceive.
• 
  Distilled beverages containing essential oils or chemical products, which are injurious to health, including thijone, star arise, benzoic aldehyde, salicylic, esters, hyssop and absinthe. Provided that nothing in this paragraph contained shall apply to ?Anise and Anisette? liqueurs containing not more than 0.1 per centum of oil of anise and distillates from either pimpinella anisum or the star arise allicium verum.
• 
   Narcotic drugs under international control
  Hazardous wastes and their disposal as provided for under the Basel Conventions
   All soaps and cosmetics products containing mercury
   Used tyres for light commercial vehicles and passengers cars
   Agricultural and Industrial Chemicals as provided under Item 11, 2nd Schedule of the EACCMA (2004)
• 
  Counterfeit of all kinds as per provisions of EACCMA 2004.
• 
  Plastic articles of less than 30 microns or conveyance or packing of goods.
• 
  All goods the importation of which is for the time being prohibited under this Act or by any written law for the time being in force in the Partner State.

Yes, pets are allowed upon securing necessary documentation. However they have to accompanying the passenger.

It is meant for passengers who have nothing to declare and are carrying dutiable goods within the prescribed free allowance. The passengers can simply walk through the Green Channel with their baggage on the basis of their Oral declaration/declaration on their Passenger Declaration Form. (Category A & B of Passengers).27.

Any passenger found walking through the Green Channel with dutiable/prohibited goods or found mis-declaring the quantity, description or value of dutiable goods at the "Red Channel" (the baggage is examined where misdeclaration is suspected), is liable to strict penal action including arrest/prosecution - apart from seizure/confiscation of the offending goods depending upon gravity of violation detected.

The Red Channel is meant for passengers who have something to declare or are carrying goods in excess of the duty-free allowance. The passenger hands over the Passenger Declaration Form to the Officer on duty at the channel. In case the card is incomplete the Customs officer helps to record the Oral declaration (O.D) of the passenger and thereafter he countersigns/stamps the same, after taking the passenger?s signature.

On the departure side, the principal task of Customs is enforcement related. These include checks to prevent narcotic drug trafficking, smuggling of other sensitive items including foreign currency, wild life products, antiques, gold etc. It is therefore important for the public to know their obligation & entitlements.

In order to facilitate the re-import of the high valued articles including jewellery, electronics, golf kits being carried out of the country, the departing passengers may request Customs for issue of a re-export certificate at the time of his/her departure from Kenya.

A party involved in international movement of goods in whatever function that has been approved by or on behalf of KRA Customs as complying with WCO or equivalent supply chain security standards.

Manufacturers, importers, exporters, clearing agents, carriers/transporters, consolidators, intermediaries, ports, airports, terminal operators, integrated operators, warehouses operators and distributors.

• Enhance the relationship between Customs and its compliant stakeholders.
• Fulfil the WCO SAFE framework of standards.
• Fulfil the global best practice of granting special authorisation and other privileges to reliable & compliant economic operators

To give preferential treatment to operators (while dealing with their transactions) who have over a period of time proven to be reliable and compliant traders/partners of the Customs and Border Control Department.

Exclusive privileges that are accorded to a select few who have met set requirements. They include:

• Self-assessment and audit based controls
• Expedited Customs procedures (Blue channelling of entries in SIMBA)
• Client relationship management
• Self-management

To import any commodity into Kenya, an importer will have to enlist the services of a clearing agent who will process the import documentation through Kenya Customs electronically on the Simba 2005 system and clear the goods on behalf of the importers. An import declaration fee (IDF) of 2% of the Customs Value is payable. Customs will assess duty payable depending on the value of the goods and the duty rate applicable. The East African Community Common External Tariff prescribing the duty rates of imported items is available at the KRA website.

You are allowed, among other items, one motor vehicle (excluding buses and minibuses) into the country duty-free subject to the following conditions:

• You must have resided outside Kenya for at least twelve months.
• You must have personally owned and used the motor vehicle outside Kenya for at least twelve months.
• The motor vehicle must not be older than 8 years.
• You must have attained the age of eighteen years
• You must not have been granted a similar exemption previously

You are allowed, among other items, one motor vehicle (excluding buses and mini buses) into the country duty-free subject to the following conditions:

• You must have resided outside Kenya for at least twelve months.
• You must have personally owned and used the motor vehicle outside Kenya for at least twelve months.
• The motor vehicle must not be older than 8 years.
• You must have attained the age of eighteen years.
• You must not have been granted a similar exemption previously

The Fifth Schedule to the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004 lays out the Exemptions Regime;
Part A : Specific Exemptions ;Privileged Persons and Institutions
Part B : General Exemptions ;Exempt Goods.

Computers, computer printers and parts only attract Import Declaration Fees of 2% of cost (CIF).
Printed Books do not attract import duty but attract VAT at 16%. However, there is an Import Declaration Fees of 2% of cost (CIF). It should be noted that advertising materials attract import declaration fees of 2%, import duty 25% and VAT of 16%.

Duty is payable on donations or gifts at the rate applicable under East African Community Common External Tariff unless such goods do not attract duty in the first place.

However, items which are exempted from duties are laid out in the Fifth Schedule of East African Community Customs Management Act. 2004.