Kenya tax, payroll and business guides

Plain-English articles on Kenyan taxes, payroll and compliance.

• 17 Oct 2026 Air freight vs sea freight for Kenyan importers: costs, speed and risksHow air and sea shipping are priced, when each is cheaper, how to calculate chargeable weight and CBM, and how freight choice changes your duty and landed cost.
• 17 Oct 2026 Storage charges and demurrage: how to avoid extra costs on importsGoods that sit too long at the port or in a container yard cost money every day. Here is where the extra charges come from and how importers keep them from building up.
• 16 Oct 2026 Courier parcels and personal shipments: duty and taxes in KenyaHow customs treats goods that arrive by courier, when duty and VAT are due, how value is assessed and how to avoid surprise charges and delays.
• 15 Oct 2026 KEBS, PVoC and import standards in Kenya: what importers must have before shippingHow Kenya checks imported goods for quality and safety, which goods need a certificate of conformity before shipment, and how to avoid rejection at the port.
• 14 Oct 2026 HS codes and customs classification in Kenya: how to find the right codeWhat an HS code is, how the EAC tariff builds on it, how classification sets your duty, and a practical method to find and confirm the right code before you ship.
• 10 Oct 2026 Returning resident duty-free allowance explainedWhat a person returning to live in Kenya can bring in duty free, how personal effects differ from goods for sale and what to declare.
• 10 Oct 2026 Importing goods for resale: VAT, records and cash flowHow VAT on imports works for a trader, how to claim it back, which documents support the claim and how import taxes affect your cash flow and pricing.
• 10 Oct 2026 The EAC Common External Tariff explained for importersWhat the EAC tariff is, how the 0, 10 and 25 percent bands work, what sensitive items and duty remission are and how to find your HS code.
• 10 Oct 2026 Importing a used car: inspection, clearance and registrationThe steps from choosing a car to registering it in Kenya: age check, pre-shipment inspection, shipping, duty, clearance and number plates.
• 10 Oct 2026 Importing from China: risks, checks and the real costHow to vet a supplier, pay safely, choose air or sea freight, avoid common scams and work out the total landed cost of goods from China.
• 10 Oct 2026 Incoterms explained for importers: EXW, FOB, CIF and DAPWhat the common shipping terms mean, who pays freight, insurance and duty under each, and how they change the price you compare.
• 10 Oct 2026 Importing a motorcycle: duty, taxes and costsWhat taxes apply when you import a motorcycle for business or personal use, how to estimate them and what else to budget for.