KRA Announces New RECTS Roll-Out Starting October 26

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has unveiled an updated framework for the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), slated to commence on October 26, 2026. This was communicated in a notice published on Tuesday, October 20, targeting importers, exporters, clearing and forwarding agents, transporters, bonded warehouse operators, Partner States, and other relevant stakeholders.

The Commissioner of Customs and Border Control will initiate the deployment of the Multi-Vendor User-Owned Framework. Following this implementation, electronic seals that KRA presently employs to tag dry cargo and motor vehicle units under RECTS will be rendered inactive starting from October 26, 2026. Moving forward, customs-controlled goods shall be monitored and tracked exclusively via devices provided by authorized vendors.

Additionally, KRA has announced that its e-fuel electronic seals, utilized to oversee wet cargo under RECTS, will also be phased out incrementally. The authority revealed that the new framework will function through private commercial agreements established between accredited vendors and users, thus enabling users to opt for their preferred vendor.

"This Framework shall be based on private commercial agreement between the approved Vendors and users. Users are at liberty to select any of the approved Vendors," KRA stated. The roster of accredited vendors is accessible on KRA's official website. The update on KRA's new RECTS roll-out was initially published on Kahawatungu.