The Kenya Revenue Authority has announced plans for a major upgrade of its cargo management system as it moves towards full automation and artificial intelligence integration in customs operations.

Speaking during the launch of the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (Kifwa) 2025–2030 strategic plan in Nairobi on Thursday, KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga said the upgrade will target the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS), which has been in use since 2021.

“As part of our modernisation agenda, we plan a major upgrade of the iCMS in the financial year 2025/2026. This upgrade, which your members will interact with regularly, will be rolled out in phases to ensure minimal disruption. Furthermore, KRA is exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence to drive the next frontier in customs operations,” Wattanga said.

He added that the transformation is aimed at improving efficiency in cargo clearance and positioning Kenya’s customs operations at par with global standards. “The future of customs lies in smart systems, data-driven risk management, and fully automated processes,” he stated.

The iCMS was introduced in October 2021 to replace the disjointed systems previously used and align Kenya with other countries in the East African Community.

It operates on a single-window platform where traders submit export and import documents electronically, cutting clearance time by an estimated 60 percent.

It also allows submission of sea manifests for imports and exports at least 48 hours before a ship arrives or departs.

KRA has already started testing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics tools to ease tax administration and detect non-compliant traders.