Mombasa is the main gateway for East Africa. Kenya''s rules are strict but predictable, and almost every rejected shipment fails on the same three points: age, inspection, and steering.
## The three hard rules
1. **Age limit.** The vehicle must be under 8 years old counted from the year of first registration. A 2019 car can still be imported in 2026 — a 2018 car cannot. 2. **Right-hand drive only.** LHD units will not be registered for road use in Kenya. 3. **Pre-export inspection.** A QISJ or JEVIC roadworthiness certificate plus a KEBS PVoC Certificate of Conformity must be issued in China **before** loading. There is no way to fix this after the vessel sails.
## How duty is actually calculated
KRA does not use your invoice value. It uses the **CRSP** (Current Retail Selling Price) list, depreciated by age, to set a customs value. On that value you pay:
- Import Duty 25% - Excise Duty 20–35%, depending on engine size (EVs sit at the low end) - VAT 16% - IDF 3.5% and RDL 2%
Taxes compound, so a car with a KES 1,000,000 customs value typically lands at roughly 1.8–2.0x that figure after all charges. Ask us for a written landed-cost sheet before you pay a deposit — our calculator on each vehicle page runs the same formula.
## Documents for clearance
- Commercial Invoice - Bill of Lading - Export Certificate / de-registration document - Certificate of Roadworthiness (QISJ or JEVIC) - Certificate of Conformity (KEBS PVoC)
Your clearing agent files the entry in iCMS, pays the assessed taxes, and then the unit goes for KEBS verification at the port.
## Shipping and timing
We ship RoRo and container from Shanghai and Guangzhou to Mombasa. Plan on 28–38 days sailing plus 5–12 working days at the port, assuming your agent has the full document set on arrival. Demurrage starts fast at Mombasa, so appoint the agent before the vessel arrives — not after.
## Practical advice
Buy RHD, Euro IV or above, under 8 years, with a clean inspection file. Hybrids and small-displacement petrol units carry lower excise than large-engine SUVs, which is why they clear cheapest in Kenya.
Send us the model you want and your target month of registration and we will confirm eligibility before you commit.