The cost of exports via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport are set to go up if a memo said to be issued by KRA is implemented. In the undated, unstamped and unsigned memo that was to take effect from February 21, 2011, Customs stipulated that a charge of USD 3.00 will be levied to endorse every Export Entry Document for purposes of VAT Refunds.

Each year, there are in excess of 160,000 shipments of fresh exports from Kenya from JKIA alone [500 per night] and implementation of this levy will cost the industry Kshs. 40 to 45 million.

The Council notes that the endorsement of the Export Entry has been a requirement that allows KRA VAT auditors to verify that the goods were actually exported and process the claims from exporters.

It is KSC’s assertion that since KRA now captures the flight manifests on the SIMBA system, there is no further need to endorse the Export Entry endorsed.

Customs is yet to confirm the authenticity of the said memo.