The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Marine Unit has intensified surveillance operations on Lake Victoria, intercepting illicit goods valued at Sh3.19 million and recovering Sh1.6 million in revenue during the 2023/2024 financial year, in a move aimed at strengthening border security and promoting legitimate trade.
According to Dominic Kengara, KRA’s Chief Manager for Customs in the Western Region, the increased patrols and enforcement efforts have led to significant progress in curbing smuggling activities and closing revenue loopholes across Kenya’s western borders.
“Our operations have greatly contributed to the reduction of illegal cross-border trade while promoting legitimate commerce through proper customs channels,” Kengara said during a media familiarization session held at the Kisumu Port on Thursday.
He noted that the heightened vigilance by the Marine Unit has successfully disrupted attempts to smuggle illicit liquor, timber, livestock, sugar, and other uncustomed goods through unauthorized lake routes, which were previously exploited by small-scale traders and organized syndicates.
The KRA Marine Unit, stationed strategically along Lake Victoria, has been a key component of the agency’s broader strategy to enhance border management, security, and revenue mobilization.
By working closely with local enforcement agencies, the unit has not only intercepted smuggled goods but also helped reduce the inflow of narcotics, weapons, and other prohibited items entering Kenya through lake borders.
Kengara also highlighted that the reopening and expansion of the Kisumu Port have revitalized regional trade and significantly boosted revenue collection.
He reported that in the 2024/2025 financial year, KRA collected Sh107 million at the Kisumu Port up from Sh30 million recorded the previous year.
The main driver of this revenue growth, he said, was increased sugar imports from Tanzania and Uganda, with approximately 4,600 metric tonnes of sugar imported between May and August 2025, yielding over Sh170 million in duties and taxes.
Beyond imports, exports through the Kisumu Port have also grown steadily, with vessels now transporting petroleum products, ceramic tiles, wheat, and fertilizer to regional destinations.
Kengara further noted that marine clearance has helped decongest traditional border points such as Busia and Malaba One Stop Border Posts, enhancing efficiency in cross-border logistics.
“One vessel exporting petroleum products is equivalent to 135 trucks transporting similar consignments via land routes,” he explained, highlighting the importance of marine transport in easing cargo movement and improving trade facilitation.
The enhanced marine operations, Kengara added, demonstrate KRA’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and accountability in customs administration.
The success of the Marine Unit reflects the authority’s continued efforts to safeguard national revenue, strengthen maritime border security, and support regional trade growth.
