Written by: Sidoman  |  Category: Shipping Guides & Tips  |  Published: 29 October 2026

If you import anything into Kenya, there is one date to put on your desk calendar this week: 1 November 2026. From that day, Kenya Revenue Authority will not clear a consignment unless it carries a valid digital marine cargo insurance certificate issued by an insurer licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Authority.

By Sidoman  |  Thursday, 29 October 2026

This is not a new law. It is the enforcement of an old one, and this time the check sits inside the customs system itself. Below we explain what changed, how the certificate is bought, and the practical steps that will keep your cargo moving at Mombasa and every other point of entry.

What KRA announced

In a public notice dated 22 October 2026, the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control said KRA, working with the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), will enforce mandatory Digital Marine Cargo Insurance (MCI) from 1 November 2026. Three points stand out:

1. Every incoming consignment must be covered by a valid MCI policy issued only by an IRA licensed insurer.
2. The certificate must be processed through the Digital MCI System and transmitted to iCMS, the Integrated Customs Management System, before the customs declaration is lodged.
3. Consignments that do not meet these requirements will be blocked from clearance.

That last line is the one that matters. Missing cover will not just attract a query or a penalty later. The entry simply will not go through.

The law behind it

The requirement comes from Section 16A of the Marine Insurance Act (Cap 390), which says anyone with an insurable interest in marine cargo must place that cover with an insurer licensed under the Insurance Act (Cap 487). Section 20(4) of the Insurance Act makes it an offence to place Kenyan business with an unlicensed insurer without prior written approval of the Commissioner of Insurance.

For years many importers bought cover abroad, often bundled into a supplier’s CIF price, and the local rule was rarely checked at the point of clearance. The National Treasury then directed IRA to work with KRA and Safaricom on a digital platform linked directly to iCMS. IRA’s own notice originally set 1 July 2026 as the start date. KRA’s October notice confirms that enforcement at clearance begins on 1 November.

How the certificate is bought

According to IRA’s published procedure and reporting on the process, the journey looks like this:

It starts with your IDF. A digital marine certificate is always issued against an active Import Declaration Form. No IDF, no certificate. Lodge the IDF early.

Choose a channel. You or your clearing agent can request cover through an insurer’s web portal or mobile app, a broker or agent, the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) portal, or eCitizen. All of these connect to the IRA electronic platform.

The cargo details come straight from customs. When the IDF number is entered, the system pulls the cargo details from iCMS. The insurer underwrites on that data, and the premium is checked against IRA approved rates.

Pay through eCitizen. An invoice is issued and payment goes through the eCitizen gateway. Once payment is confirmed, the certificate is generated.

The certificate travels on its own. The certificate and payment confirmation are sent electronically to iCMS, so customs can verify the cover automatically when your agent lodges the entry.

Practical tips for importers

Review your buying terms. If you buy on CIF or CIP terms, your supplier arranges insurance, usually with a foreign insurer. Under the Kenyan rule, cover must be placed locally, and KRA will look for a local digital certificate before clearance. Many importers will find it cleaner to buy on FOB, FCA or CFR terms and insure locally from the start, rather than paying twice. Talk to your supplier before the next order is confirmed.

Make the details match. The certificate is built from your IDF data. If the invoice value, description or quantities later change, sort out the IDF and the cover before the declaration, not after the vessel berths. A mismatch is the fastest way to a stuck entry.

Insure early, not on arrival. Cargo on the water is exposed to loss from the day it leaves the origin port. Buying cover only when the ship is near Mombasa defeats the purpose of insurance and risks a last minute rush on the portals.

Shipments already on the way. If your cargo sailed in October and will be declared after 1 November, assume the requirement applies and arrange your certificate now. Ask your clearing agent to confirm before the vessel arrives.

Keep the documents together. File the certificate, the payment confirmation and the IDF with your bill of lading or airway bill. When a claim or an audit comes, you will want them in one place.

Air cargo is included. The notice covers all incoming consignments, so do not assume a small air shipment is exempt because it is not on a ship. Ask your agent to confirm the cover before the cargo lands.

What it means for your landed cost

Insurance has always been part of the true cost of an import, alongside freight, duty, port charges and delivery. The difference now is that it is visible and compulsory at clearance. When comparing quotes, ask whether marine cover is included and who is placing it. For air freight, remember that charges are worked out per kilogram on the actual weight or the volume weight, whichever is higher. Sea freight is charged per cubic metre for LCL, or per container for FCL. Insurance is calculated separately on the cargo, so include it in your sums before you pay the supplier.

Why this can work in your favour

A local policy means a local claim. If cargo is lost, damaged or caught in a general average declaration, you deal with a Kenyan insurer under Kenyan law, rather than chasing a foreign underwriter you have never met. Combined with prompt inspection on arrival and written damage notice the same day, local cover puts importers in a far stronger position when something goes wrong.

How Sidoman can help

Sidoman Investment Limited has cleared and forwarded cargo through Mombasa since 2009. We handle imports from anywhere in the world into East Africa by air and sea, LCL, FCL and consolidation, door to door, port to port and port to airport, with last mile delivery across the region. We also move exports from East Africa to major cities worldwide.

We will help you line up the IDF, confirm your digital marine cargo insurance is in place and transmitted, and get your declaration lodged without surprises.

Get a quote today at sidoman.com or WhatsApp us on +254 722 375 423. Follow Sidoman on all our social media platforms for weekly shipping tips and trade updates.

Sources

1. Kenya Revenue Authority, Enforcement of Marine Cargo Insurance, public notice, 22 October 2026: https://www.kra.go.ke/news-center/public-notices/2402-enforcement-of-marine-cargo-insurance
2. Insurance Regulatory Authority, Enforcement of Local Marine Cargo Insurance Cover for All Imports (copy hosted by KSAA): https://ksaa.co.ke/uploads/downloads/Insurance%20Regulatory%20Authority%20%20-%20Enforcement%20of%20Local%20Marine%20Cargo%20For%20All%20Importers.pdf
3. Pulse Kenya, How to buy Digital Marine Cargo Insurance cover in KRA new import rule: https://www.pulse.co.ke/story/how-to-buy-digital-marine-cargo-insurance-cover-in-kra-new-import-rule-2026102214302003507
4. Kenyans.co.ke, KRA Makes Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Mandatory From November 1: https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/128782-kra-makes-digital-marine-cargo-insurance-mandatory-november-1