KRA Announces New SGR Changes

President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off SGR Phase 2A at the Nairobi Terminus on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off SGR Phase 2A at the Nairobi Terminus on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
PSCU

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced changes in the small traders importation chain which also touches on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

In an advertisement carried in the local dailies, the taxman noted that it had changed the manner in which small scale traders would receive their cargo once imported.

KRA, in the notice, revealed that the deconsolidation process of the cargo would be done at the Kenya Railway Corporation (Blue Line) Transit Shade.

The authority further indicated that the new exercise aimed at facilitating easy and faster clearance of cargo would take effect on Monday, February 8.

An SGR Cargo train on the move
SGR Cargo train on the move.
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"The Government of Kenya, in a bid to facilitate easy and faster clearance of cargo, has gazetted various facilities to be used for deconsolidation and clearance of cargo imported by small scale traders.

"All consolidators and importers are hereby notified, that with effect from February 8, 2021, all consolidated cargo imported by sea and transported to Nairobi through the SGR, will be consolidated, cleared and collected by the owners at the Kenya Railway Corporation (Blue Line) Transit Shade: the facility designated for this purpose," read the notice in part.

The taxman further noted that those importers located in different parts of the country would receive their deconsolidated goods from various facilities across the country.

"Cargo destined for other parts of the country will be deconsolidated at the other designated facilities.

"The owners of the consignments will collect their cargo from the deconsolidation centres," continued the statement.

An order to transport cargo exclusively on SGR has previously caused an uproar among truck drivers based at the coast region. 

The importers at the time lamented that the directive would impact the economy negatively and since the SGR was launched in 2017, it has struggled to break even on its profit front.

Traffic jam along the Mombasa, Mariakani road.
Traffic jam along the Mombasa, Mariakani road.
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