The Kenya Customs and Border Control Department on Wednesday, May 17, announced plans to destroy abandoned property worth millions.
In a notice, the authority issued a 30-day notice as an ultimatum for Kenyans to collect the property left at the customs warehouse.
If not collected, the customs department stated that it would destroy or dispose of the goods at warehouses in Eldoret, Nakuru, Lodwar, Lokichoggio and Suam.
“Notice is given that unless the under-mentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of the Customs Warehouse Keeper, Eldoret, Nakuru, Lodwar, Lokichoggio and Suam within thirty (30) days of this notice.
“They will be treated as abandoned and will be disposed of by destruction or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the Commissioner may direct,” the notice read in part.
Items set for destruction included cartons of beer and alcohol from the Eldoret International Airport customs warehouse and 0.5 kilograms of a modified pistol at the Post Parcel office in Eldoret.
At the Lodwar Customs Warehouse, 724 bags of sugar were set to be disposed of in addition to 76 crates of beer, 8 cartons of wine, and 108 bags of powdered milk.
At the same time, items at the Lokichoggio Customs Warehouse were also set to be destroyed including radio communication equipment complete with accessories, 26 bags of sugar and 100 cartons of cigarettes.
Mitsubishi Colt D/Cabin and Unit Toyota Hilux Pick Up were also part of the items set to be destroyed at the warehouse.
The authority also noted that there was an abandoned package of mobile phones, a package of limestone set and adult toys left at a post parcel office in Eldoret.
Further, at the Eldoret post parcel office, a package of Radio Parts, 3 packages of drones, t-shirts, Solar bulbs and a carton of bed sheets had been abandoned.
According to Sections 42 and 248 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, the goods can be disposed of by public auction or sold.
"Where any goods which have been deposited in a customs warehouse are not lawfully removed within thirty days after deposit, then the Commissioner shall give notice by publication in the Gazette that,"
"Unless such goods are removed within thirty days from the date of notice they shall be deemed to have been abandoned to Customs for sale by public auction and may be sold in such manner as the Commissioner may deem fit," the Act reads in part.
