AfricaShipping Heavy Equipment to Kenya
Kenya is East Africa's largest economy and a major logistics hub. The Port of Mombasa serves Kenya and provides transit access to landlocked Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and eastern DRC.
Main Ports
- Port of Mombasa
Shipping Methods
- RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
- Flat Rack Container
- Breakbulk
Key Regulations
- Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
- Import Declaration Form (IDF)
- East African Community
Common Cargo
- Construction Machinery
- Mining Equipment
- Agricultural Equipment
Main Ports in Kenya
Port of Mombasa
Major Seaport
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Kenya
| From (US Port) | To | Service | Est. Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Mombasa | Container / Breakbulk | 40–55 days |
| New York / NJ | Mombasa | Container / RoRo | 35–50 days |
Transit times are indicative port-to-port estimates and vary by carrier, season, and sailing schedule.
U.S. Departure Ports for Shipping to Kenya
We ship to Kenya (Port of Mombasa) from every major U.S. port. Typical ocean transit is 25-35 days.
Gulf Coast
East Coast
Import Duty, VAT & Taxes for Kenya
Kenya values used vehicles on the KRA Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) list (adjusted for depreciation), not your invoice. Import duty, excise and VAT are applied in sequence to that customs value.
- Import Duty
- Typically 25–35% of the CRSP-based customs value
- VAT / Sales Tax
- 16%
- Other Taxes & Fees
- Excise duty 20–35% (by engine size and fuel type), an Import Declaration Fee, and a 2% Railway Development Levy
Source: Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) · Last verified: June 2026
Used Vehicle & Equipment Age Limits
Road vehicles must be under 8 years from the year of manufacture (in 2026, generally 2019 or newer), right-hand-drive, and pass a mandatory pre-export roadworthiness/conformity inspection to KEBS standards before loading. Age limits do not apply to most heavy machinery and project cargo.
Source: KRA / Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) · Last verified: June 2026
Import Regulations & Requirements
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
Equipment must comply with Kenyan standards. Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) required.
Import Declaration Form (IDF)
All imports require IDF registration before shipment.
East African Community
EAC common external tariff applies with standardized procedures.
Required Documentation
Customs & Clearance Notes for Kenya
What makes Kenya tricky
- The right-hand-drive requirement rules out most US-market (left-hand-drive) passenger vehicles for road registration.
- CRSP-based valuation can place the customs value well above what you paid, increasing total duty.
- Duty is assessed on the KRA CRSP value, which can be higher than the purchase price — budget from the CRSP figure, not the invoice.
- A pre-export inspection certificate of conformity to KEBS standards (e.g. via an appointed inspection agent) is required before the vehicle ships.
Seasonality & Scheduling
Mombasa is the gateway for much of East Africa and can be congested; the long rains (March–May) and short rains (October–December) can affect inland transit to Nairobi and landlocked neighbours.
Frequently Asked Questions
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