The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), together with the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), began enforcing a digital marine cargo insurance rule on 1 November 2026.

Importers – including electronics traders and online retailers – must confirm that the insurer and clearing agent have uploaded a valid digital insurance certificate to KRA’s Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) before the Import Declaration Form (IDF) is submitted.

Only marine cargo policies issued by IRA‑licensed insurers are accepted; the certificate is transmitted electronically from the insurer’s platform to iCMS, creating an electronic record for customs.

If the digital certificate does not reach iCMS, the shipment will be blocked from clearance and the importer must troubleshoot the missing record with the insurer and clearing agent.

The process requires the importer or clearing agent to access the IDF through a portal linked to the insurer’s system, complete the certificate fields, pay the premium, and submit the certificate for transmission to iCMS.

Upon successful transmission, the importer receives a confirmation message; this electronic approval is needed before customs can clear the goods.

Importers should keep the IDF number, insurance certificate, and payment reference together to enable the insurer to trace any transaction issues.

The notice issued on 22 October 2026 provides no manual fallback, paper‑certificate exception, or grace period; payment receipts alone do not substitute for a successful digital transmission.

For queries, IRA lists the email commins@ira.go.ke and phone line 0800724499; when escalating, importers should specify whether the problem lies with payment, certificate issuance, or customs receipt.

Existing legal obligations under Section 16A of the Marine Insurance Act still apply, requiring cover unless a prior exemption is granted by the Commissioner, and the Insurance Act’s definition of Kenya business does not automatically exempt online shop stock.

Importers planning future shipments should embed the digital certificate check into instructions for insurers and clearing agents and obtain a clear response from customs if transmission fails.