Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted 21,600 undeclared smartphones worth Sh16 million at Eldoret International Airport after a whistleblower tip, exposing a major smuggling syndicate involving powerful networks and corrupt officials.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intercepted a major smuggling racket involving 21,600 undeclared smartphones valued at Sh16.1 million in unpaid taxes at the Eldoret International Airport.
The cargo, flagged after an intelligence tip, was part of a larger consignment that also included 5,000 properly declared smartphones worth Sh6.4 million in tax, alongside shoes, clothes, auto spare parts, household goods, and electronic accessories.
KRA investigators revealed that the high-end gadgets had been disguised under consolidated cargo categories and falsely declared as clothing and household items. The shipment, flown in on September 18, 2025, was consigned to a cargo company but linked to individuals connected to powerful government figures.
According to Section 203 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA), 2004, the offence of false declaration attracts fines of up to USD 10,000 or a three-year jail term.
“This interception is part of ongoing efforts to curb tax evasion schemes and enhance compliance for fair trade,” the Commissioner of Investigations and Enforcement stated.
Whistleblowers, including activist Cyprian Nyakundi, have repeatedly flagged suspicious shipments since 2023, though many warnings were ignored due to internal frustrations within KRA. Sources claim some customs officials at Eldoret Airport had been negotiating corrupt deals to release consignments, denying the government millions in tax revenue.
Insiders warn that the smuggling cartel relies on “group consolidation” to conceal premium smartphones and electronic devices, aided by compromised customs staff.
“The big dealers are bribing their way to sneak in high-end mobile phones. They must be stopped,” one enforcement official said.
KRA has now dispatched a special investigation team to Eldoret, with top executives demanding accountability. Concerns have also been raised over the delayed implementation of a cargo management framework approved in June 2025, leaving loopholes exploited by rogue traders and their powerful protectors.
This interception marks the latest scandal in a series of smuggling and tax evasion schemes at Eldoret Airport, where corrupt networks have long undermined Kenya’s revenue collection efforts.
