Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) enforcement officers at Eldoret International Airport seized 21,600 undeclared smartphones, with taxes valued at Ksh16.1 million.

The consignment, which also included 5,000 declared smartphones worth Ksh6.4 million, arrived as part of consolidated cargo alongside shoes, clothes, spare parts, household goods, and electronic accessories.

According to KRA, the shipment—traced to two companies—was flown in on September 18 and flagged following an intelligence tip-off.

The authority noted that declarations were filed either individually or under consolidated cargo categories.

“The consignments were consigned to Pemba Cargo Limited and were declared by Portyard Limited through a cargo plane that arrived on 18th September, 2025.

“Investigations have established that the declarations of the goods were done either expressly or under consolidated cargo under each category,” the statement read in part.

The authority revealed that the fraudulent clearances occurred between August 1 and August 23, 2025, before being uncovered through routine audit checks.

Immediate intervention by KRA officials prevented the substantial revenue loss, with the full amount now recovered.

In a press statement, the tax agency confirmed it launched a comprehensive investigation in collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The multi-agency team revealed it was working to identify all parties involved in the scheme, including any KRA staff members who may have facilitated the fraud.

Commissioner of Customs and Border Control emphasised the authority’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, stating: “The Authority remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating corruption within its operations. Anyone found culpable, whether staff members or external parties, will face the full rigour of the law.”