This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
On June 29, 2020, the National Assembly in Kenya made a crucial decision that would impact small traders in the country.
MPs voted to block changes that would have forced small traders to individually declare their cargo to the Kenya Revenue Authority, a move that would have been a significant burden for them.
The proposal, which was part of the Finance Act 2019, aimed to have traders line up to declare their imports shipped in as consolidated cargo, a process that would have entailed splitting the cargo and subjecting each trader to a full clearance procedure.
However, stakeholders in the cargo industry, including African Salihiya Cargo and Clearing, opposed the move, saying it would collapse their businesses and destroy the industry.
According to the firm, the proposal would have crippled consolidation business and made it difficult for them to operate effectively.
“Additionally, the amendment was introduced in the Finance Act 2019 and should therefore be given time to fully operationalise,” the firm said in its submission.
