The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), working with a multi-agency enforcement team, has destroyed contraband goods valued at KSh218 million in a major crackdown on illicit trade and tax evasion.
The destruction exercise was conducted simultaneously at Envirosafe Limited in the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Athi River, Nairobi, and at a designated destruction site in Voi, Taita-Taveta County.
Among the items destroyed were various brands of beer, spirits and bottled water that had been seized during coordinated enforcement operations carried out by KRA’s Medium and Small Taxpayers Enforcement Division in Nairobi and the Coastal region.
According to KRA, investigations revealed that the products violated several laws governing the manufacture, importation and sale of excisable goods.
The authority said the seized products were found bearing counterfeit excise stamps, swapped and non-activated excise stamps, while some had been produced by unlicensed manufacturers as part of schemes aimed at evading excise duty.
KRA said the destruction exercise underscores its commitment to protecting consumers, safeguarding government revenue and promoting fair competition by eliminating illicit trade networks.
Speaking during the exercise, KRA Chief Manager for Micro and Small Taxpayers Michael Gichuki said the operation forms part of the authority’s broader efforts to protect compliant businesses and uphold the integrity of Kenya’s tax system.
“Our work is firmly anchored on safeguarding the health, safety and economic well-being of every Kenyan. These enforcement measures are not intended to punish law-abiding traders. Rather, they are designed to protect legitimate businesses by removing rogue operators who distort markets through tax evasion and unfair competition,” Gichuki said.
He noted that illicit trade continues to pose a major threat to Kenya’s economy by depriving the government of tax revenue while exposing consumers to counterfeit products that do not meet required quality and safety standards.
Gichuki warned that many illicit products bypass regulatory inspections and are often manufactured under unhygienic conditions, posing serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
He further noted that counterfeit trade undermines legitimate manufacturers by creating unfair competition, threatening jobs, discouraging investment and slowing industrial growth.
KRA reiterated that taxes lost through illicit trade reduce resources available for essential public services, including healthcare, education, infrastructure and security, adding that enforcement operations against tax evasion and counterfeit goods will continue across the country.
