KRA Orders Transporters to fit Vehicles with Electronic Tracking System

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has issued an ultimatum ordering all transporters in the country to install Electronic Cargo Tracking Systems (ECTS) on their vehicles to enable the monitoring of cargo brought in and out of the country, according to a report by Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

This move is in line with the East African Community’s objective, set during the signing of the single customs territory agreement between Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan last month, to implement electronic tracking of all cargo within the community by January 2014.

Officials from KRA revealed that the first stages of the ECTS had been completed in June 2010. However, KRA made the installation of the system on vehicles voluntary after Kenya Transport Authority took the organization to court, claiming the directive to install ECTS unfairly targets vehicles registered in Kenya, against vehicles from other East and Central African nation—which the drivers say their competitors sometimes use to work within the country.

However, with other east African nations aboard this initiative, KRA officials believe this system can effectively keep track of cargo that enter through the country’s borders to avoid theft, diversion and tax evasion.

KRA officials say all transporters in the country are to have their vehicles fitted with the system, which has the ability to collect information on a truck and its contents whether it is moving or stationery, by February 2014. All transporters without the ECTS installed in their vehicles will not be allowed to operate come February 2014, according to KRA.

KRA have also disclosed that vehicles fitted with the ECTS will be granted special privileges such as priority boarding on customs loading zones and waivers on transit goods License Fees. Transporters have also been advised to fit their vehicles with electronic security seals.

News Source: Zegabi