Kenya Import Duty Calculator
Use our Kenya import duty calculator and import tax calculator to estimate customs duties, VAT, and total landed cost for shipments to Kenya with current KRA rates.
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About Importing to Kenya
Use our Kenya import duty calculator and import tax calculator to estimate exactly what you will pay when importing from AliExpress and other international stores into Kenya. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) applies import duty, VAT at 16%, a 1.5% railway development levy, and possible excise tax depending on your product category. Our free calculator gives you a full landed cost breakdown - including CIF value, customs duties, taxes, and fees - so you know your total cost before you order. Whether you are importing electronics, clothing, machinery, or cosmetics, the Kenya import duty calculator above provides instant estimates based on current KRA rates.
How Import Duties Are Calculated for Kenya
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) calculates import duties using the CIF method — Cost, Insurance, and Freight. When you buy from AliExpress or another international store, the CIF value is your product price plus the shipping cost. KRA then applies the East African Community Common External Tariff (EAC CET) to determine your import duty rate, which varies by product category from 0% for machinery and solar energy up to 25% for electronics and accessories.
After import duty, KRA charges Value Added Tax (VAT) at 16% on the combined CIF value plus duty amount. An Import Declaration Fee (IDF) of 2% of the CIF value and a Railway Development Levy (RDL) of 1.5% are also applied. Certain goods like cosmetics attract additional excise duty at 5%. All declarations are processed through KRA's Simba 2005 System, and importers typically work with licensed clearing agents to handle documentation. Use this Kenya customs duty calculator to get your exact breakdown based on current KRA rates.
Kenya Import Tax Rates
Source: official customs authority
| Category | Duty | VAT | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phones & Computers | 0% | 16% | Levy 4.5% |
| Electronics | 25% | 16% | Levy 4.5% |
| Cosmetics | 35% | 16% | Excise 5% + Levy 4.5% |
| Solar Energy | 0% | 0% | — |
| Accessories | 25% | 16% | Levy 4.5% |
| Appliances | 25% | 16% | Levy 4.5% |
| Machinery | 0% | 16% | Levy 4.5% |
| Clothing | 25% | 16% | Levy 4.5% |
De minimis: $0
Goods under this threshold may clear duty-free
Currency: KES
1 USD ≈ 130 KES
Shipping: $15
Typical international shipping estimate
Example Import Cost Calculation for Kenya
Let's calculate the landed cost for a $50 electronics item shipped to Kenya through AliExpress.
The shipping estimate is $15, giving a CIF value of $65. Import duty at 25% is $16.25. VAT at 16% on the duty-inclusive value comes to $13.00. The Import Declaration Fee at 2% of CIF adds $1.30, and the Railway Development Levy at 1.5% adds $0.98. Your total landed cost is $96.53. In Kenyan shillings at the current rate of 130 KES/USD, that is approximately KES 12,549.