KRA schedules 8-hour shutdown of customs management system for maintenance
The iCMS was designed to modernise Kenya's customs process, bringing greater efficiency to cargo clearance.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a scheduled eight-hour shutdown of its Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) on Saturday night for system maintenance.
According to a statement released by the authority, the maintenance will begin at 10 pm on Saturday, January 11, and end at 6 am on Sunday, January 12.
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The iCMS system, introduced during the second term of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, is central to the processing of documents for both the importation and exportation of goods at various ports across the country.
KRA has apologised for any inconvenience this shutdown may cause, noting that the system plays a critical role in the smooth clearance of cargo.
The iCMS was designed to modernise Kenya's customs process, bringing greater efficiency to cargo clearance.
It was intended to streamline trade by automating manual processes, reducing complexities, and improving the speed of cargo movement.
The system's rollout aimed to simplify business operations in Kenya and improve the country's ranking in ease of doing business.
The iCMS system also promised to offer preferential treatment for authorised economic operators (AEOs) by allowing them benefits that were not possible under the previous Simba system.
Additionally, the platform aimed to strengthen security and regional integration through advanced risk management features and transparency in trade, as it eliminated human intervention.
However, the system's rollout has not been without its challenges.
Despite its promising capabilities, the iCMS has faced numerous outages, which have had a major impact on the flow of goods in and out of Kenya.
A notable incident occurred in November 2024, when the system suffered a five-day outage at the port of Mombasa.
This disruption led to significant economic losses, particularly in the tea export sector, with consignments worth over Sh3.25 billion delayed at port facilities.
The port of Mombasa was particularly hard hit, with scheduled shipments of tea missing their deadlines. Other sectors also suffered from the system's downtime.
This recent failure has led to calls from stakeholders for KRA to develop a backup cargo management system which can serve as an alternative in the event of another iCMS outage.
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