KRA iCMS downtime: Why Sunday’s 12-hour shutdown could raise costs for importers

Kenyan importers are facing a 12-hour interruption to electronic customs processing starting Sunday, September 6, 2026. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is scheduled to maintain the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) from 6 am to 6 pm, which could affect access to the platform. While KRA has apologized for any inconvenience caused by the maintenance, the potential financial impact for importers is not a new charge but rather the possibility that a delayed customs transaction could keep cargo in the clearance chain for longer.

This could affect delivery schedules, transport arrangements, inventory planning, and other logistics costs. However, there is no evidence that Sunday’s maintenance will result in storage, demurrage, or other additional charges for importers. KRA has not stated that the exercise will create a post-maintenance backlog. Businesses handling perishable goods, time-sensitive consignments, or urgently required goods for production or sale have less room to absorb a delay.

The scale of Kenya's main maritime gateway, the Port of Mombasa, is significant, with 45.45 million metric tonnes of cargo processed in 2025, up from 40.99 million tonnes in 2024. KRA's revenue has also reached record highs, with the Customs and Border Control Department collecting Ksh988.78 billion in the 2025/26 financial year.

KRA has considered the effect of iCMS downtime alongside cargo operations, as seen in their change of maintenance schedule in April. The key issue for importers is not the 12-hour maintenance window itself but what happens to transactions caught inside it. If the system resumes as scheduled, the impact may be minimal for some businesses.

However, for those with time-sensitive consignments or perishable goods, the delay could have wider consequences.