KRA system outage at Mombasa Port causes transport delays of goods worth billions
The technical breakdown of the iCMS, the central system for handling all customs documentation, has also hit traders across various sectors, adding to escalating losses and logistical frustrations.
Operations at Mombasa port have ground to a halt due to a five-day outage in the Kenya Revenue Authority's (KRA) integrated Customs Management System (iCMS), leaving tea consignments worth over Sh3.25 billion ($25 million) stranded.
The technical breakdown of the iCMS, the central system for handling all customs documentation, has also hit traders across various sectors, adding to escalating losses and logistical frustrations.
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In a notice, the KRA acknowledged the problem and advised stakeholders to hold off on document filing until the system is back up.
"This is to notify all our esteemed stakeholders that our online services are unavailable due to technical challenges. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and kindly request your patience as our technical team works to restore normal operations," the KRA’s statement read.
The situation has hit the tea industry especially hard, with major exporters missing shipment schedules and incurring significant financial losses.
At the Mombasa Tea Auction, traders are grappling with the inability to export last week’s tea consignments, compounding issues of cargo storage and delayed sales.
The East African Tea Trade Association Managing Director George Omuga stressed the need for a long-term solution, advocating for a backup clearance system to prevent future disruptions.
“There is a need to have an alternative cargo clearance system apart from iCMS as a fallback plan. The government should also consider facilitating monthly billing to reduce the financial burden on traders,” Omuga suggested.
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