KRA Announces Changes Affecting Cargo Tracking and Seals

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a notable update to its cargo monitoring system, which already integrates Kenya’s trade operations with the broader East African Community (EAC) through the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS).

The system, which has evolved from physical Customs escorts to tamper-proof electronic seals, and later to multi-vendor seals, now is transitioning to multi-vendor, user-owned e-seals to secure both dry cargo (e-seals) and wet cargo (e-fuel).

 “Under this system, export and transit cargo moving through Kenya is fitted with electronic seals and monitored centrally. RECTS has significantly reduced cargo clearance times, enhanced cargo security, and improved accountability in transit operations,” the taxman said in a statement. 

E-seals are digital devices fitted to containers, trucks, or tankers that provide tamper-proof security, real-time monitoring, and an auditable record of cargo movements. When linked to RECTS, each seal transmits its location and status to a central platform, allowing Customs to track goods from the point of origin to their destination. 

Any attempt to tamper with a seal generates an immediate alert, ensuring accountability and deterring theft or smuggling.

KRA’s integration with the EAC aims to harmonise cargo tracking across borders, improve trade efficiency, reduce delays at regional entry and exit points, and strengthen compliance with customs regulations. 

To engage stakeholders, KRA has invited the public and electronic seal vendors to participate in a virtual sensitisation and engagement meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 4th February 2026. Requests for the meeting link, petitions, or memoranda can be submitted via email or delivered physically to the Commissioner of Customs and Border Control within two weeks of the notice

Detailed terms, technical specifications, and the operational framework for the new system are available on the KRA website.

This development follows the launch of a new digital platform by the governments of Kenya and the UK aimed at modernising border operations and simplifying trade.

The eCUSTOMS app allows for faster, paperless processing of customs declarations for traders, transporters, and passengers, significantly reducing waiting times and truck queues at border posts.

Under the system, small-scale traders can self-declare cargo, passengers can pre-declare their baggage, and transporters can digitally manage empty truck declarations and toll payments.

 Overall, the platform is expected to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and lower operational costs by addressing long-standing delays and technical bottlenecks that have hindered the movement of goods across the Kenya–Uganda border.