The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has posted its highest-ever monthly Customs collection, boosted by a sharp increase in non-oil revenue at the start of the 2026/27 financial year.
Customs and Border Control collected KSh92.53 billion in July, exceeding the Treasury’s target of KSh86.16 billion by KSh6.37 billion. The figure represents 107.39% of the monthly target and is 15.3% higher than the KSh80.29 billion collected in July 2025.
Non-oil revenue was the main driver of the record performance, crossing the KSh60 billion mark for the first time. Collections from the segment reached KSh61.50 billion during the month, underscoring KRA’s efforts to reduce reliance on traditional revenue streams and broaden the tax base.
The July performance follows another record month in June, when Customs revenue reached KSh89.1 billion. The consecutive monthly highs point to improved revenue mobilisation as the government seeks to raise more domestic resources to finance its spending plans.
KRA attributed the latest gains to stronger taxpayer compliance, increased use of technology in customs operations, better cargo management and measures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade through the country’s borders and the Port of Mombasa.
The authority has intensified the use of data analytics and digital systems to strengthen cargo risk management and speed up declaration processing, while also stepping up enforcement against illicit trade and revenue leakages.
The reforms are aimed at making customs processes more efficient and predictable for businesses while ensuring the government collects all taxes and duties owed.
KRA Commissioner for Customs and Border Control Lilian Nyawanda described the July performance as a significant milestone and a strong opening to the new financial year.
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She said the authority would continue streamlining processes for compliant businesses while tightening enforcement to ensure all government revenue is collected.
The surge in non-oil collections comes as KRA seeks to expand the country’s revenue base through improved compliance and tighter controls.
Data from the National Treasury shows that the number of active taxpayers increased by 82,000 to more than 6.6 million by March 2026, up from 6.5 million a year earlier. The Treasury attributed the increase to improved voluntary compliance.
Expanding the tax base is part of the government’s strategy to raise annual revenue beyond KSh4 trillion under the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy, alongside measures to strengthen tax administration, reduce tax expenditures and seal revenue loopholes.
The government has set a KSh4.8 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, increasing pressure on revenue agencies to sustain strong domestic collections.
