The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched a new mobile application, eCUSTOMS, designed to simplify trade and reduce clearance times at border points for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The app, unveiled on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the Busia One Stop Border Post (OSBP), is a product of a 15-year partnership between the KRA, the British High Commission (BHC), and TradeMark Africa (TMA).

Officials project the digital platform will save small traders approximately KSh 750 per customs declaration, a significant saving for individuals who may cross the border multiple times a day. The system is also expected to reduce cumulative truck waiting times by up to 1,200 hours daily at the Busia border alone, which translates to about one hour saved per truck.

Digital Solution for Regional Trade

The eCUSTOMS app allows traders, transporters, and passengers to submit customs declarations electronically, a move intended to make the process faster, paperless, and more transparent. According to KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga, the platform will create a more conducive business environment by modernizing border operations. “By enabling paperless and seamless processes, this platform will provide traders with faster, more accessible, and more transparent services,” Wattanga stated on Monday.

The application is a key component of KRA's broader strategy to digitize its services through the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS). The iCMS, which has been rolled out progressively since 2019 to replace the older Simba system, automates, integrates, and harmonizes all customs processes into a single window. This integration is crucial for regional trade, as it allows for interoperability with the customs systems of other East African Community (EAC) partner states, facilitating real-time cargo tracking from the Port of Mombasa to landlocked nations.

Impact on Kenyan and East African SMEs

The app is specifically designed to support SMEs, which form the backbone of Kenya's economy. It empowers small-scale traders to self-declare cargo through simplified digital forms, which is expected to improve accuracy and compliance. The platform is available for goods valued at USD 2,000 (approximately KSh 252,000) or less. Passengers can also pre-declare customs and accompanied baggage before arrival, speeding up clearance.

Dr. Ed Barnett MBE, Chargé d'Affaires at the British High Commission in Nairobi, highlighted the app's direct benefit to small businesses. “This long-term partnership has delivered a solution directly into the hands of small businesses – the hustling backbone of Kenya's economy,” he said on Monday. The initiative is also seen as a critical step in supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving the efficiency of trade flows between Kenya and its neighbours.

Former Ethiopian Prime Minister and TMA Board Chair, H.E. Hailemariam Boshe, described the launch as a “major milestone for integrating trade across East Africa.” He noted that technology and partnerships are key to unlocking regional economic growth.

A Continuation of Digital Modernization

The launch of the eCUSTOMS app follows several other digital initiatives by the KRA aimed at streamlining trade and enhancing revenue collection. In October 2025, the KRA, in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), launched an Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCOO) system to digitize the issuance of certificates needed for preferential trade benefits. Furthermore, starting December 1, 2025, the KRA has mandated that all customs bank guarantees be processed exclusively through the iCMS platform to curb fraud and accelerate trade.

While these digital systems are designed to increase efficiency, their success depends on stakeholder adoption and system stability. The KRA has acknowledged the need for user support, having previously set up dedicated desks to assist traders during the transition to iCMS. The new eCUSTOMS app is available on both Android and iOS platforms.