Importers have been given an ultimatum of one month to collect the large consignments of restricted items among them drones, sex toys and shisha pipes congested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) custom.
According to Commissioner for Customs and Border Control at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Lilian Nyawanda, most Kenyans sourced the items abroad without the knowledge of the stringent permit conditions before they could be allowed into the market.
She said the huge-pile up has put the custom warehouses in limbo noting that the warehouse has very limited capacity.
“The warehouse has very limited capacity owing to the slow rate at which permits are issued for restricted items such as drones or frequency at which destructions are conducted for prohibited imports,” Nyawanda said.
By lapse of the September 30 goods not collected will be auctioned or destroyed.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Regulations requires importers to pay a fee of Sh3,294 ($30) for importing drones.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) issues Remote Operators Certificate to fly drones in the Kenyan airspace at a cost of about Sh80,000 with an annual renewal fee of about Sh50,000.
In March, KCAA received a go-ahead to operationalize the Civil Aviation (Regulatory Fees and Charges for Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020 which was acceded to by the National Assembly on 6 March 2021.
The proposed charges gazetted by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Transport, James Macharia, stated that Kenyans and entities wishing to own and operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems popularly known as drones will pay a Sh3,000 registration fee.
However, only citizens, residents, businesses and governments are eligible to own a drone.
Foreign tourists are to rent a drone locally, however, the law also provides for a 30-day temporary permit that may be suitable for travellers.
