The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced plans to auction off a wide range of unclaimed goods stored at its Kilindini Customs Warehouse in Mombasa and the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi.
The auction comes after importers failed to clear their cargo within the stipulated 30-day period, as required under the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004.
In a notice published in the Kenya Gazette on Friday, January 2, KRA warned that the goods would be treated as abandoned if not removed from customs custody within the given timeframe.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 42 of the EACCMA Act, 2004, notice is given that unless the listed goods are entered and removed from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper at the Inland Container Depot, Nairobi, within 30 days, they will be deemed abandoned and disposed of in accordance with the Act, including being sold by public auction on February 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13,” the notice read in part.
The authority has scheduled public auctions for Kilindini warehouse goods between February 16 and February 20, 2025, and for Nairobi depot goods between February 9 and February 13, 2026.
The goods up for sale include industrial machinery, construction materials, ceramic tiles, plastic granules, sewing threads, second-hand clothing, and fruit, nut, and vegetable processing equipment.
Some consignments include complete poultry feed milling plants and solar inverters, reflecting the range of unclaimed imports.
In Mombasa, consignments include electricity, woven carpet rolls, ceramic tiles, plastic granules, and machinery.
At the Nairobi depot, consignments comprise hundreds of kilograms of Brazilian white and brown sugar, light poles, clear float glass, building materials, and equipment for laboratories, such as ergonomic lab stools and chairs.
Additionally, the depot has electronics and appliances, including refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioners, TVs, photocopiers, and printers, which are also part of the auction.
The notice also lists large quantities of construction items such as building structures, polypropylene ropes, and cigarette consignments.
KRA has allowed prospective buyers to inspect the goods on February 5 and 6, 2026, at the specified locations during office hours. Interested parties can also participate in the online auction.
The taxman said that such auctions are intended to reduce congestion at port facilities, release overstayed goods, and recover revenue from unclaimed imports.
