Kenya to auction uncollected South Sudan-bound cargo in Nairobi warehouses

NAIROBI – Kenyan authorities will auction cargo destined for South Sudan and some parts of Kenya if it remains uncollected by July 31, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said in a notice.

The move affects 85 shipments currently held in warehouses around Nairobi, after cargo owners blamed delays on a mix of factors including unscrupulous clearing agents, recent regulatory changes, and security concerns.

“Unless the goods are entered and removed within 30 days of this notice, they may be sold by public auction on July 31, August 1 and 2 via online platform,” said George Aduwi, Chief Manager of KRA’s Customs and Border Control Department.

The authority did not disclose the value of the goods, which range from building materials and pharmaceuticals to raw materials and used clothes.

Mombasa-based clearing agent Edwin Karissa said Juba’s introduction of new directives, including a $350 fee for an electronic cargo tracking system, had burdened some traders.

South Sudan’s finance ministry implemented the tracking system through a Ugandan firm, but traders challenged it in court.

Separately, a South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) official in Mombasa, Samwel Bolis, accused Kenyan clearing agents of defrauding South Sudanese clients, contributing to the backlog.

“We’ve received complaints from clients who were swindled by middlemen,” Bolis said as quoted by The East African. “We’re compiling a list of credible clearing agents for future reference.”

The news comes as cargo volumes moving through Mombasa port to South Sudan have tripled in the past four years, according to the Kenya Ports Authority.

South Sudan is now the second-largest user of the port after Uganda, which saw a slight decline in cargo last year. Meanwhile, Tanzania and DR Congo recorded significant increases in cargo volumes using Mombasa in 2023.