Over 400 containers are stuck at the Port of Mombasa following the South Sudan government’s decision to introduce a USD350 (Ksh46,550) Electronic Cargo Tracking Note.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, on Wednesday, March 20, Roy Mwanthi, the Chairman of Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association revealed that the levy was being imposed on Kenyan agencies instead of South Sudan nationals.
The disagreements between South Sudanese Revenue (SSR) officials based in Mombasa and KIFWA have seen cargo containers destined for Juba continue piling at the Port of Mombasa.
“SSR now wants us (agencies) to pay the new levy and we are not owners of the goods,” Mwanthi remarked.
Mwanthi explained to Kenyans.co.ke, that there was a fixed rate that had been agreed between Kenyan transporters and the owners of the cargo.
“If we pay the Ksh46,550 levy, no one will reimburse us since we had already agreed on the amount of fee to charge for transporting the cargo to Juba,” he lamented.
“We have asked the South Sudan officials to collect the levy at the Nimule Entry Point but they are adamant it must be paid in Mombasa.”
Mwanthi explained that within two days, the cargo will have overstayed in Mombasa and customs officials will have to move it to storage.
This means that more charges will be levied on the goods before they are released by Kenyan customs officials.
To prevent that, Mwanthi explained that KIFWA would be moving to court to compel South Sudan customs officials to allow owners of the goods to pay the levy instead of Kenyan transporters.
These tensions between Kenya and South Sudan come just days after 60 trucks from Kenya carrying military equipment were detained in Juba.
At the time, it was revealed that the detention was due to disagreements between transporters, contractors, and the purchasing authority.
