Kisumu: The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has intensified patrols and surveillance on Lake Victoria in a renewed effort to curb rising cases of smuggling of goods and illicit trade along the country’s inland waters. KRA Western Regional Manager, Dominic Kihara, acknowledged that the authority had observed a worrying trend of traders shifting from traditional land routes to the lake to evade customs checks, describing the vice as fast-evolving.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kihara said the agency’s marine unit, under the Customs and Border Control Department, had scaled up operations across the lake’s major landing sites to counter the rampant vice. He noted that in the 2023/2024 financial year, the marine unit impounded uncustomed goods worth Sh.1.9 million, while in the 2024/2025 financial year, the value of seizures rose to Sh3.2 million, a reflection of both increased vigilance and the persistence of cross-border smuggling attempts.
During the same period, he said, the number of marine patrols increased from 140 to 209, with 1,785 vessels boarded compared to 1,438 the previous year. ‘Smuggling activities are increasingly moving from land borders into the lake, where enforcement is more complex,’ Kihara said. ‘Our patrols are designed to prevent and deter these crimes before they happen.’
He added that the KRA is keen to project its presence on the lake to discourage illicit activity. ‘When traders see our branded boats flying the national flag and patrolling even at night with strobe lights, they know that KRA is on the water. That visibility alone prevents wrongdoing,’ he said.
Despite the challenges, the heightened enforcement, he said, has translated into notable progress in trade facilitation and revenue collection. Customs data shows that revenue from Kisumu Port jumped from Sh. 35.7 million in the 2023/2024 financial year to Sh107.9 million in 2024/2025, buoyed by increased exports of petroleum products, ceramics, heavy machinery, and fertiliser. In the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, the port has already generated Sh70.7 million, signaling sustained growth.
Kihara attributed the improved performance to stronger compliance among traders and enhanced efficiency in port operations. ‘Our deterrence measures have boosted confidence in legitimate trade. When smugglers are stopped, honest traders benefit from faster clearance and stable markets,’ he said.
According to KRA records, Kisumu Port now clears an average of 20 vessels monthly, with customs clearance taking about six hours and a two-day turnaround time per vessel. However, Kihara admitted that the marine unit continues to face operational constraints that limit its full coverage of the lake. ‘We have over 200 landing sites along the Kenyan section of Lake Victoria. The vastness of the lake makes it difficult to maintain continuous surveillance, and our current number of patrol boats cannot adequately cover every area,’ he said.
He cited aging vessels and equipment, as well as harsh weather conditions, among the key challenges affecting patrol efficiency. The existing boats, including Ushuru 1 in Kisumu and KRA 004 in Usenge, have been in service for over a decade and require constant maintenance. ‘We need to modernize our marine assets to match the sophistication of smuggling networks,’ he said.
To bridge the gap, Kihara said KRA has strengthened collaboration with partner agencies such as the Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), and the Beach Management Units (BMUs) to expand surveillance coverage. ‘The Coast Guard, KMA, and BMUs are vital partners because they have boats and local networks we can rely on. Through this cooperation, we enhance our presence and efficiency,’ he said.
Beyond enforcement, Kihara emphasized that KRA’s goal is to facilitate legitimate trade and build public trust. He urged traders within the East African Community (EAC) to comply with customs procedures, reminding them that goods moving between EAC countries are exempt from import duty under the Single Customs Territory framework. ‘Many of the goods we intercept originate from within the EAC,’ he said. ‘There is no import duty between member states-only VAT and excise duty apply. So using shortcuts doesn’t save anything; it only invites penalties.’
Besides equipment modernisation, Kihara said plans were also underway to invest in training for marine officers and strengthen inter-agency coordination to secure Kenya’s maritime borders and safeguard national revenue. ‘Our marine unit is crucial in protecting Kenya’s economic interests, not just through revenue collection but also by ensuring security and order in our waterways,’ Kihara said. ‘With better equipment and cooperation, we can make Lake Victoria a safe corridor for legitimate trade,’ he added.