MPs and KPA Sound Alarm Over High Taxes and Charges Hurting Trade
Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have expressed serious concerns over the growing number of random charges being imposed by county governments on goods coming into Kenya through the sea.
These charges, they say, are not only unnecessary but are also harming the business environment and Kenya’s position as a leading trade hub in the region.
The issue was raised on Sunday during a meeting with the National Assembly’s Committee on Regional Integration.
At the meeting, KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto told lawmakers that county governments were introducing the County Export Sub-levy System (CESS) charges on cargo that had already been cleared at the port.
He explained that this was an unnecessary burden on businesses and was damaging the country’s trade competitiveness.
Captain Ruto emphasized that once containers leave the port, they are sealed, indicating that all official port charges and required fees have already been paid. Imposing additional levies after clearance, he said, makes no sense and is bad for trade.
He also recommended the expansion of automation and the full integration of weighbridge systems across the country’s transport network. Ruto argued that introducing a standard margin of tolerance at weighbridges would promote compliance among transporters and improve cargo transit efficiency.
MPs also voiced frustrations over continued delays in the movement of goods, even after the government made efforts to streamline the cargo clearance process. They noted that the number of cargo clearance agencies had been reduced from 27 to only four.
However, the continued existence of numerous weighbridges and police roadblocks along the Northern Corridor was still disrupting trade, increasing transit time, and causing unnecessary costs for traders.
Committee chairperson Irene Mayaka assured stakeholders that the committee would pursue legislative solutions to solve these issues.
She stressed the need for modern technology and tighter security to protect goods in transit, especially along the Northern Corridor and the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor.
“We are going to push for the removal of non-tariff barriers along the Northern Corridor,” said Mayaka. “We also want to attract investors to the Blue Economy through incentives, improve port security, and introduce advanced scanning equipment at the ports to speed up inspections without compromising security.”
The Kenya Ports Authority charges several fees to support the smooth handling of goods at the ports. These charges fund essential services such as cargo handling, storage, security, and the maintenance of port infrastructure.
Some of the major charges include port handling fees, stevedoring (loading and unloading), and wharfage fees, which apply based on whether the cargo is in containers, bulk form, or in a conventional format.
Containerized cargo carries extra charges depending on the container size and whether it’s loaded or empty.
If cargo stays at the port beyond the allowed free period—which is usually four days for containers and seven days for bulk items—storage fees are also applied. There are also charges for shore handling, documentation, and port security.
Some specific goods attract additional charges. For instance, refrigerated goods incur reefer plug-in fees because of the need to maintain cold temperatures. Dangerous or hazardous cargo is charged a safety surcharge because of the extra handling and security measures involved.
KPA also works with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to impose weighbridge and cargo verification charges, especially when items must be physically inspected or weighed for customs compliance.
While these fees are crucial for running port operations and maintaining efficiency, many traders argue that the overall cost of doing business is becoming too high.
The combination of these official port charges and extra levies from county governments—especially the CESS tax—creates a heavy financial burden.
Many traders say this is pushing business away from Kenya and weakening the country’s position as a central logistics hub for East and Central Africa.
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