The government's Customs and Border Control Department on Thursday, April 6, announced a public auction of over 119 imported cars and other goods at the Kilindini warehouse in Mombasa County.
In a Gazette Notice number 4511, the Customs Department indicated that the auction was a result of owners' failure to collect the items after docking in Kilindini.
The state, as a result, gave the owners 30 days to collect the cars before the auction event takes place.
"Notice is given that unless the undermentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper, Kilindini, within thirty (30) days of this notice, they may be sold by public auction on May 10, 2023," the notice read in part.
The cars listed in the notice include Toyota Wish, Subaru Legacy, Probox, Fielder, Allion, Auris and Toyota Succeed.
Others included used Suzuki Wagon R, Used 2012 Mazda Premacy, Used bus, Mitsubishi Model Fuso, Used Nissan Note, Used Toyota Passo, Harrier, Nissan Juke, Hilux, Noah and Rav 4.
Luxury cars such as Land Cruisers, Mercedes Benz, and Station Wagons were also included in the list of uncollected goods at the Kilindini warehouse.
Several Caterpillar excavators and tractors were also included. In the notice, some goods were destined for other East African countries, but owners were yet to claim them.
The Port of Mombasa serves as an entry point to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia. They use the port to import various products.
Besides cars, the Customs Department also listed clothes, machines, galvanised steel, spare parts and building tools.
How to Bid
According to the notice, interested buyers were advised to visit warehouses in Kilindini to view the cars and the other products set to be auctioned.
"Interested buyers may view the goods on May 8, 2023 and May 9, 2023, during office hours," Bernard Kibiti, Chief Manager, Port Operations, stated.
Interested bidders will have to view the items at the various designated warehouses in Kilindini.
They will then be handed a document with the prices of the vehicles and assorted items. To obtain a bidding number, one must pay a refundable deposit based on the vehicle model and the item identified as a banker's cheque.
The highest bidder will walk away with the vehicle or goods they choose.
The move is expected to pave the way for the docking of more ships and storing imported goods at the Kilindini warehouses and others across the country.
