The government has announced the importation of duty-free dates during this year's holy month of Ramadan.
In an internal memo dated January 29, 2024, the Kenya Revenue Authority(KRA) noted that the dates to be considered for exemption must have been imported and cleared between March 1, 2024, to April 20, 2024.
"The dates shall be for use during the holy month of Ramadan as will be officially announced by the chief Kadhi and the government," part of the memo read.
KRA noted that the memo followed a letter by National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u dated January 26, 2024. The CS stated that the move was a gesture of manifestation of goodwill to the Muslim community.
KRA directed that importers and clearing agents of the dates will apply on ICMS for an exemption processing code that will exempt thereby exempting 100 per cent import duties and all other taxes, fees and levies on the dates consignment.
"The consignment shall be subjected to scanning for risk management," KRA stated.
Records indicating the date of importation, qualities and duties, taxes, fees and levies exempted will then be submitted to the National Treasury principal secretary (PS).
"The duty-free importation of dates shall expire on April 20, 2024."
Notably, KRA stated that in the event the dates are sold or otherwise not distributed as intended, appropriate taxes shall become due and payable.
