Shipping experts have warned that from Saturday, consumers should prepare to dig deeper into their pockets for imported products and expect shipment delays.
According to the Kenya Ship Agents Association (KSAA), Kenyans should brace for a rise in commodity prices and significant delays as the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) introduces new inspection and phytosanitary fees for agricultural imports and exports, effective March 1, 2025.
These fees apply to goods transported by both sea and air. Some of the products that could be affected include flowers, avocados, coffee, and tea exports, as well as the import of fertilisers, animal and vegetable fats, and oils.
Speaking in Mombasa on Thursday, February 27, after a consultation between the association and KEPHIS, KSAA leadership said the changes would have wide-ranging effects.
“The labour is already there. The equipment is there. When you put all this together, mama mboga is going to pay for this,” said Auni Bhaiji, Deputy Chair of KSAA.
Last year, KEPHIS announced the implementation of new cargo inspection fees at Mombasa Port, effective March 1, 2025. These fees are set at KSh 2,000 for a 20-foot container and KSh 500 for a 40-foot container.
Aircraft carrying agricultural goods will also face new levies, with exporters paying KSh 0.50 per kilogram and a minimum charge of KSh 100 per shipment. In addition, each phytosanitary certificate and inspection will cost KSh 500. For imports, the same weight-based charge applies, but businesses will also pay KSh 600 for a plant import permit.
The rollout will begin with a pilot phase covering both inbound and outbound sea vessels and containers to ensure phytosanitary compliance, mitigate risks, and uphold trade standards.
KEPHIS Managing Director Theophilus Mutui stated that the implementation of fees for phytosanitary services aims to ensure the quality of imports and exports of agricultural produce and products while also preventing the introduction and spread of pests and diseases.
“Vessels and sea containers need to be inspected for cleanliness, and they need to be cleaned to remove any dust, debris, and residue that could be there,” he said on Thursday.
He added, “This is to reduce the spread and transport of pests and diseases.”
These new charges have faced opposition from traders and shipping agents. Elijah Mbaru, CEO of the Kenya Shipping Agents Association (KSAA), argues that the KEPHIS charges duplicate services already provided by Kenya Port Health and could lead to additional delays in the supply chain.
He said, “There will be a huge delay. How many containers are there? One ship has got 1,000 containers or more.”
Similarly, the East African Tea Trade Association has expressed concerns, noting that the increased fees could significantly raise operational costs for importers and exporters, potentially impacting the competitiveness of Kenyan products in international markets.
The government, however, is not backing down, and the fees are set to be implemented starting this weekend.
