KRA launches new App to revolutionise cross-border trade

Chargé d'Affaires, British High Commission in Nairobi -Dr. Ed Barnett MBE (Right) TMA Board Chair & Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia—Hailemariam Boshe (left); and Commissioner of Customs and Border Control, Dr. Lilian Nyawanda, during the launch of eCUSTOMS App at the Busia One Stop Border Post./FAITH MATETE

The government has launched a new digital platform eCustoms App aimed at simplifying trade, speeding up goods clearance, and modernising Kenya’s border operations.

The system will allow KRA to process customs declarations faster, paperlessly, and more efficiently for traders, transporters, and passengers.

Developed jointly by the British High Commission in Kenya, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and TradeMark Africa (TMA), the app has been unveiled at the Busia One Stop Border Post on the Kenya–Uganda border.

The launch was graced by Commissioner Customs and Border Control Dr. Lilian Nyawanda, Trade Mark Africa CEO David Beer and Chargé d' Affaires British High Commission in Nairobi Dr. Ed Barnett, TMA Board Chair and Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Boshe, among other dignitaries.

The app, Dr. Nyawanda says, represents a major milestone in Kenya’s and East Africa’s ongoing efforts to simplify trade, reduce clearance timelines, and enhance compliance and transparency at border points.

KRA tea, during the launch of eCUSTOMS App at the Busia One Stop Border Post./FAITH MATETE

She noted that the eCUSTOMS solution will ease cross-border trade and promote a conducive business environment by simplifying customs declarations and modernizing border operations.

The commissioner emphasized that by enabling paperless and seamless processes, the platform provides traders with faster, more accessible, and more transparent services.

“To the stakeholders gathered here today, traders, clearing agents, transporters, and fellow border agencies, I urge you to embrace this platform and collaborate with KRA to ensure a smooth adoption process. Because when we embrace technology, we unlock efficiency, and when we unlock efficiency, we unlock prosperity”.

She reaffirmed KRA’s commitment to continued investment in technology to ensure processes remain efficient and user-friendly. The eCUSTOMS app will significantly reduce time and costs associated with border transactions.

KRA has launched a new digital platform eCustoms App at the Busia One Stop Border Post./FAITH MATETE

At the Busia OSBP alone, the platform is expected to cut cumulative truck waiting time by up to 1,200 hours per day, translating to an average of one hour saved per truck.

Small-scale traders will also benefit from an estimated Sh750 saving per customs declaration, a meaningful difference for women and youth who cross the border multiple times daily.

Available on both Android and iOS, the app empowers users across the board. Small-scale traders can self-declare cargo using simplified digital forms, improving accuracy and compliance.

Passengers are able to pre-declare customs and accompanied baggage before arrival, allowing faster clearance. Truck drivers and transport operators will experience smoother truck rotation and toll-free movements while managing declarations for empty trucks and toll collections with ease.

The platform also enables fast-track declarations for goods valued at USD 2,000 or less, supporting the growth of SMEs and informal cross-border trade.

Speaking during the launch, H.E. Hailemariam Boshe, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and TMA Board Chair, described the initiative as a major milestone for integrating trade across East Africa.

He noted that deeper cross-border trade would drive shared economic growth and highlighted how partnerships and technology continue to unlock regional development.

Dr. Ed Barnett stated that this mobile app is more than a tech upgrade it is a game-changer for trade efficiency and transparency.

“For Kenya, this means faster clearance times, improved compliance, and stronger integration into regional and global value chains. For traders and citizens, it means greater convenience and trust in the systems that support economic growth.”

He noted that the long-term partnership has delivered a solution directly into the hands of small businesses, which he referred to as the hustling backbone of Kenya’s economy.

He highlighted that whether one has a fleet of trucks, a Probox, or a Boda Boda, the renewed Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership is delivering tangible benefits for businesses of all sizes.

The eCUSTOMS app is also expected to support the implementation of theAfrican Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving the efficiency of trade flows between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the broader region.

The platform will be applicable at all border-crossing points, offering unified digital support for traders moving goods across East Africa.