Countries · KE
Kenya: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 10 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Kenya.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Kenya in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Kenya may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
10 entries on the official lists name Kenya — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| UN Security Council Consolidated List | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Kenya recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Kenya: logistics and trade
East Africa Transit Hub / Gateway to the Northern Corridor
Kenya (KE) is East Africa's logistics hub and the gateway of the Northern Corridor serving Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the DR Congo. As an EAC member, Kenya applies the common external tariff (0/10/25 per cent, sensitive goods up to 35 per cent); clearance runs electronically through the Kenya Revenue Authority's iCMS, import VAT is 16 per cent, plus a 2.5 per cent Import Declaration Fee and a 2.0 per cent Railway Development Levy. The main gateways are the Port of Mombasa (2.11 million TEU in 2025) and the LAPSSET port of Lamu, along with Nairobi (NBO), Mombasa (MBA) and Eldoret (EDL) airports. Key axes are the Mombasa–Nairobi–Malaba Northern Corridor and the Standard Gauge Railway to the Nairobi and Naivasha inland container depots. Exports centre on tea, coffee, cut flowers and vegetables, imports on petroleum products, machinery and vehicles; main partners are China, India, the UAE, Uganda and the EU, covered by an EPA since July 2024.
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Population
- 56,432,944
- Area
- 580,367 km²
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling (KES)
- Continent
- Africa
- Region
- East Africa
- Economic area
- EAC
- Religions
- Christianity, Islam
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Rail · Road · Air
- Current situation
- Mombasa with chronic congestion in 2026 (long ship and truck waiting times, Northern Corridor affected); South Sudan partly diverts to Dar es Salaam/Tanga. ICD Naivasha in operation since Feb 2026, KPA is expanding port access roads. (As of 2026-07-23)
- Seasonal conditions
- Long rainy season March to May and short rainy season October to December; heavy rain and flooding can affect roads and corridors.
Main seaports
- Mombasa
Mombasa (KE MBA): East Africa's largest container port, 2.11M TEU in 2025. CMA CGM expansion, SGR rail to Nairobi and Naivasha, customs, Dar es Salaam option.
- Lamu
Lamu (KE LAU): Kenya's second deep-sea gateway. New LAPSSET container port in Manda Bay, 3 of 23 berths live, ~1.2M TEU planned. Mombasa remains the main alternative.
Main cargo airports
- Jomo Kenyatta International AirportNBO
Jomo Kenyatta (NBO), Nairobi: East Africa's top cargo airport. ~80% of Kenya's flower exports, ~1.2M t capacity, cold chain, Kenya Airways & Astral Aviation.
- Moi International AirportMBA
Moi International Airport (MBA/HKMO), Mombasa: about 500 t of cargo a month, perishables and pharma handling, sea-air plans at the port, alternative Nairobi (NBO).
- Eldoret International AirportEDL
Eldoret (EDL): western Kenya's cargo airport for flowers and perishables, three weekly freighters, runway extension to 4.1 km for wide-body aircraft.
Road corridors
- Northern Corridor (Mombasa–Nairobi–Malaba–Uganda)
- Mombasa–Nairobi Highway (A8)
- LAPSSET Corridor
Rail corridors
- Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Mombasa–Nairobi–Naivasha
- Northern Corridor line (metre gauge) towards Uganda
Inland ports
- ICD Nairobi (Embakasi)
- ICD Naivasha
Main trade lanes
- Kenya–China
- Kenya–India
- Kenya–UAE
- Kenya–EU (Netherlands)
- Kenya–Uganda
Customs and import
Customs authority Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Customs and Border ControlOfficial website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic via KRA's iCMS; Import Declaration Form (IDF) before arrival. The EAC Common External Tariff (CET) applies with bands of 0/10/25 percent; sensitive goods up to 35 percent.
- Export customs system
- Export declaration via KRA's iCMS through a licensed customs agent; duty-free trade within the EAC with EAC certificate of origin.
- Import VAT
- 16 percent standard rate on taxable imports (CIF plus duty plus other levies). Additionally IDF 2,5 percent and Railway Development Levy 2,0 percent on the customs value (KRA).
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- EAC certificate of origin for duty-free EAC trade; EUR.1 or origin declaration for the EU-Kenya EPA; COMESA and AfCFTA certificates of origin depending on the agreement.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Import control through KEBS conformity assessment (PVoC) with Standards Mark; licensing requirements include weapons, medicines and chemicals, among others; prohibitions under the EAC Customs Management Act.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading/air waybill
- iCMS import declaration (IDF)
- KEBS certificate of conformity (CoC/PVoC)
- Certificate of origin (for preference)
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- iCMS export declaration
- EAC or EUR.1 certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate (agricultural goods)
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium to high
- Customs delays
- Medium to high
- Port congestion
- High
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- High
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Petroleum products
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Chemicals
- Iron
Top export goods
- Tea
- Coffee
- Cut flowers
- Vegetables
Typical cargo
- Tea
- Coffee
- Cut flowers
- fresh vegetables
- Petroleum products
- Machinery
- Vehicles
Upcoming public holidays
- Jamhuri Day (Republic Day)Sat, 12 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- Utamaduni DaySat, 26 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
- New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- Good FridayFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Easter MondayMon, 29 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
- Labour DaySat, 1 May 2027 · businesses closed
- Madaraka DayTue, 1 Jun 2027 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Kenya Requires Freight Data Prior to Loading (ACD Code)26 Aug 2026
Kenya requires the ACD code (Advance Cargo Declaration) prior to loading. If it is missing, the container may be pushed to the next departure starting September 1st.
Logistics questions
Which import VAT applies in Kenya?
16 percent standard rate on taxable imports, calculated on CIF plus duty plus other levies (Kenya Revenue Authority).
Which customs system does Kenya use?
The Kenya Revenue Authority handles imports and exports electronically via iCMS; the Import Declaration Form (IDF) is submitted before arrival, and using a licensed customs agent is common.
Which common external tariff applies in Kenya?
The EAC Common External Tariff (CET) with bands of 0, 10 and 25 percent; sensitive goods can reach up to 35 percent.
Which charges apply in addition to customs duty?
An Import Declaration Fee of 2,5 percent and the Railway Development Levy of 2,0 percent, both on the customs value (CIF).
Which port is the most important for Kenya?
The Port of Mombasa, operated by the Kenya Ports Authority, is the most important gateway for Kenya and East African transit (around 2,11 million TEU in 2025).
Do Kenyan exports benefit from EU market access?
Yes, since the EU-Kenya EPA (in force since July 2024), Kenyan exports have duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market; an EUR.1 or an origin declaration is required.
Is Kenya relevant for air freight?
Yes, Nairobi airport (JKIA) is a leading air cargo hub in East Africa, especially for cut flowers, fresh vegetables and pharmaceutical products.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 23 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.