Reprieve for small traders as MPs back cargo consolidation
Monday, June 29, 2020 0:01
By EDWIN OKOTH
Cargo at the port of Mombasa.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Small traders have won a reprieve after MPs blocked changes that would have set them for a tedious declaration of consolidated cargo.
Last week, the National Assembly adopted the proposal by cargo consolidators seeking exemption of the traders from individually declaring their cargo to the Kenya Revenue Authority.
The Treasury proposed to have traders line up to declare their imports shipped in as consolidated cargo in what would have entailed splitting the cargo and subjecting each trader to a full clearance procedure.
The Committee endorsed submissions from the cargo consolidators, clearing agents and shipping agencies, saying declaring cargo individually was “premature for a practice formalised just a year ago.”
