Is Importing Goods About to Get More Expensive? David Weighs In

Did you know new import taxes and regulations have already been passed?

This isn’t just policy talk; it directly affects your hustle and your bottom line.

That’s why David is stepping in to break it down, so you don’t get hit with surprise fines or, worse, have your goods stuck at the port.

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Importers wa mtush bales saa hii wana’deal na two additional costs: the [Import Declaration Fee](https://www.privacyshield.g....) (IDF) pamoja na Railway Development Levy (RDL).

Before July 2025, hizi charges zilikuwa exempt, but not anymore.

David breaks it down with an example:

“For example let say umezoea kushika bale ya 8000 Kes ya nguo kutoka pale China, sasa itabidi umelipa an extra 360 Ksh per bale na pia watakuwa more strictly na zile mzigo unaitisha, that is, the quality kutoka nje.”

In short: the cost per bale iko higher, na inspection on what you bring iko tighter.

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Another big change ni riba ya gava ku’insist on a Certificate of Origin for all imports, ikuwe bwaku ama tudonyore.

David ana explain why:

“Also gava imedai ati before uinginze hio mizigo hapa Kenya lazima ukuwe na certificate inaitwa ‘Certificate of origin’.

Hii document inasaidia gava ku identify penye hii mzigo imetoka ndio waweze ku apply the right taxes na pia iwasaidie kujua hii mzigo yako imefikisha the right quality standard.

Zamani hii document ilikuwa inaitishwa tu wale wasee wanaingiza mizigo big, but saa hii mzigo yako ikuwe big ama small gava ina require hii document.”

Translation?

Whether wewe ni hustler mdogo or a big player, hauwezi skip paperwork anymore.

Yes; and here’s why.

David sheds light juu ya CRSP (Current Retail Selling Price) updates:

“Kama unadai kushika gari for business use ama personal use, just know gava ime-update the CRSP.

Hii ndio list yenye inasaidia gava ku-calculate taxes on new or used cars zinaingia kwa country. In short, updated CRSP itafanya value ya most cars ipande, na some models zitakuwa even more expensive.”

So usikuwe shocked kama dream car umekuwa ina eye suddenly iko na higher duty tag.

David ana insist it’s not all doom and gloom.

Kuna practical steps every importer anaeza take ku’keep their biz yake safe:

“Wewe kama mwana biashara pitia hizi new taxes na regulations ndio usijipate off-guard. Unaweza pata more info kwa KRA website.”

“Bonga na suppliers wako, waambie wakutafutie original certificate of origin ama any other document required.

Hizi documents wanapata kwa local custom authority yao.”

“Piga hesabu yako, adjust bei ya bidhaa zako, na bonga na customers wako uwaeleze kwa nini umeongeza bei ndio usiwapoteze.”

“Ensure umeweka document zako fiti — Import Declaration Form, Commercial Invoice, na Packing Slip — ndio mzigo yako iprocess haraka bila ngori.

Imports ina get tighter na pricier, but ukiwa na the right info na preparation, you don’t have to be caught off guard.