Dr. Karanja noted that the irregularly registered motor vehicles have been found to be overage and as such, they have prohibited imports since they do not comply with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) KS 1515:2000 standard on the eight-year rule.
“Members of the public are hereby requested to verify the status of payment of Customs duty of registered motor vehicles with the Kenya Revenue Authority before purchasing the same,” he added.
In the recent past, KRA has continued to intercept imported or locally manufactured goods and the means of conveyance (motor vehicles/trucks). KRA says Some of these vehicles have been found to transport prohibited, uncustomed goods, including excisable goods affixed with fake stamps or those not affixed with excise stamps.
According to the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 being in possession of motor vehicles for which duty has not been paid is an offense. The law states that: “A person who — (d) acquires, has in his or her possession, keeps or conceals, or procures to be kept or concealed, any goods which he or she knows, or ought reasonably to have known, to be (iii) uncustomed goods, commits an offense and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine equal to fifty percent of the dutiable value involved, or both of the goods”.
It further states in Section 210 that. “In addition to any other circumstances in which goods are liable to forfeiture under this Act, the following goods shall be liable to forfeiture— (a) any prohibited goods; (c) any uncustomed goods;”
KRA has therefore urged the public to avoid the consequences of investigations, prosecution, seizure, and detention of their goods. Truck and motor vehicle owners are now required to know what their vehicles are carrying, the owner(s) of the goods, and the actual destination where the goods are to be delivered to avoid the consequences.
