The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) today auctions 193 cars at Mombasa port alongside other items as it seeks to recover million in taxes.
This follows the expiry of a notice that was issued last month, where the taxman said it will auction the goods in 322 lots, which have overstayed in a different custom warehouse in the port city after owners failed to pay their taxes and other requisite duties.
The KRA tends to recover million of shillings from the exercise where interested buyers are now requested to view the goods in 16 different warehouses where the goods are stored.
Those to be auctioned this week include 193 cars and canters, used clothes and household goods, 48 forty-feet containers containing sewing machine centre beams, tea processing pans with accessories, pipes, and pipe fitting among other goods.
“Goods will be auctioned pursuant to provisions of section 42 of the East Africa Community Custom Management Act, and the notice is given unless the undermentioned goods are entered and removed from the custody of the customs warehouse keeper within 30 days of the notice,” read part of the gazette notice date May 20, 2022.
This will be the last main customs auction at the port this financial year 2021/2022.
“I found my goods listed in the auction gazette notice because I did not pay demurrages and that I had not cleared my taxes during the covid-19 pandemic because my business had collapsed.
My two canters and a container of used clothes are some of the goods being auctioned but I hope I will clear with KRA before the exercise begins,” said businessman John Mwaliko.
There are economic huddles to traders importing goods through the Mombasa Port and have failed to clear cargo on time.
Importers urged the government to consider giving them more time to clear their cargo.
KRA auctions goods that have overstayed at warehouse after owners fail to pay taxes.