Kenyans are set to dig deeper into their pockets after the excise duty on 16 products being imported into the country shot up.
In a notice dated November 5, 2021, the state announced that there were changes in the excise duty of some goods that are determined by a specific rate of duty.
The goods, some household essentials, include fruit juices, wines, bottled water, powdered milk, motorcycles, imported sugar and chocolate among others.
The increase in excise duty was determined by the average inflation rate for the 2020/2021 financial year pegged at 4.97%.
Fruit juices (including grape must), and vegetable juices, unfermented and not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter saw an increase of excise duty from Ksh11.59 per litre to Ksh12.17 per litre.
Bottled or similarly packaged waters and other non-alcoholic beverages, not including fruit or vegetable juices also recorded a spike from 5.74 per litre to Ksh6.03 per litre.
Beers with an alcoholic content not exceeding 6% will see excise duty rise from Ksh116.08 per litre to Ksh121.85 per litre while that of powdered milk shot from 116.08 per kg to Ksh121.85 per kg.
Wines recorded an increase from 198.34 per litre to Ksh208.20 per litre while spirits saw its rise to Ksh278.70 per litre from Ksh265.50 per litre
Motorcycles of tariff no. 87.11(excluding motorcycle ambulances and locally assembled motorcycles) saw a rise in excise duty from Ksh11,608.23 per unit to Ksh12,185.16 per unit while manufactured tobacco saw a spike from Ksh9,273.55 per kg to Ksh9,734.45 per kg.
For imported sugar, the duty rose to Ksh36.74 per kg from Ksh35 per kg while for chocolate, which includes chocolate in blocks, slabs or bars, the duty increased from 209.88 per kg to Ksh220.31 per kg.
Other affected products include cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, containing tobacco or tobacco substitutes which had duty rise from Ksh13,247.63 per kg to Ksh13,906.04 per kg.
Electronic cigars saw a rise from Ksh3,974.08 per unit to Ksh4,171.59 per unit. Cartridge for use in electronic cigarettes had the duty increased from Ksh2,649.74 per unit to Ksh2,781.43 per unit.
Cigarettes with filters (hinge lid and soft cap) had the duty rise from Ksh 3,312.96 per mile to Ksh3,477.61 per mile while those without saw an increase from 2,384.24 per mile to Ksh2,502.74 per mille.
According to the agency in charge, the new levies kicked in on November 2, 2021, excludes all petroleum products.
