1
Confirm 8-year eligibility
Kenya holds a strict 8-year cap on used-vehicle age at the point of import. Most kei trucks at auction are older than 8 years — verify the build date before bidding.
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Importing a Kei Truck to Kenya
8-year-from-manufacture cap on used-vehicle imports; PVOC and KEBS standards apply.
Duty 25%
Eligibility: 2018 and later (in 2026) only — Kenya rejects keis older than 8 years at import.
Step-by-Step
2
Apply for a PVOC certificate
Pre-export Verification of Conformity is mandatory. SGS Japan, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek issue PVOCs; allow 4–6 weeks. Costs typically US$400–700.
3
Engage a Kenyan customs clearing agent
Agent files the IDF (Import Declaration Form) and handles KRA clearance. Fees KES 50,000–90,000.
4
Pay deposit and ocean freight
Yokohama to Mombasa, 28–40 days transit. Container freight US$4,200–5,200 per 40ft HC.
5
Customs clearance at Mombasa
25% import duty, 20% excise duty (age-graded), 16% VAT, plus IDF and RDL fees. Total tax burden often exceeds the CIF value — model your landed cost carefully.
6
NTSA registration
National Transport and Safety Authority handles registration. Annual inspection sticker required. Right-hand drive is fine — Kenya is an RHD market.
Key Documents
- ✓Japanese export certificate
- ✓Bill of Lading
- ✓Commercial invoice
- ✓PVOC certificate (mandatory)
- ✓KRA IDF entry
- ✓NTSA registration application
Estimated Costs (KES)
| Line Item | Indicative Range |
|---|---|
| auction average | JPY 1,400,000+ (US$9,500+) — only 2018+ keis qualify |
| ocean freight | US$4,200–5,200 per 40ft HC (split across 4 keis) |
| duty 25pct | 25% of CIF |
| excise 20pct | 20% age-graded excise |
| vat 16pct | 16% of CIF-plus-duty-plus-excise |
| pvoc inspection | US$400–700 |
| agent clearance | KES 50,000–90,000 |
| indicative total | US$17,000–25,000 landed and registered |
Watch Out For
- !PVOC failures send the container back to Japan at your cost. Use a Japan-side PVOC partner with strong Kenya KEBS familiarity.
- !Kenya's tax stack often exceeds CIF — the cheapest auction unit becomes the most expensive landed unit. Run the landed-cost engine before bidding.
Sourcing Partner
JapanCarDirect — Kenya-experienced exporter
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