ACD

Advance Cargo Declaration

A 15-digit reference that must appear on the Bill of Lading before a shipment is loaded at origin.

KRA Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) · ImminentEAC Customs Management Act, 2004 · In force

AEO

Authorised Economic Operator

Status granted by KRA to compliant traders, giving simplified procedures and reduced inspection rates.

KRA EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 · In force

CB6

Customs Bond Form 6

Security bond required of bonded warehouse operators, guaranteeing duty if goods are released improperly.

KRA Bonded Warehouse Licence and CB6 Bond · In force

CFS

Container Freight Station

A KPA-licensed facility for consolidating and deconsolidating containerised cargo away from the quay.

KPA KPA Tariff 2025 · In force

CoC

Certificate of Conformity

Issued by a KEBS-appointed inspection agency confirming goods meet Kenyan standards before export.

KEBS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) · In force

CVOL

Commercial Vehicle Operator Licence

Operator-level NTSA licence covering fitness, safety management and a nominated safety officer.

NTSA Commercial Vehicle Operator Licence (CVOL) · In force

CVRL

Commercial Vehicle Road Licence

Annual per-vehicle NTSA licence. Fee: KSh 2,000 per vehicle per year.

NTSA Commercial Vehicle Road Licence (CVRL) · In force

Demurrage

Charge accruing when a container remains at the terminal beyond its free period. Distinct from detention, which is the charge for holding the carrier’s equipment after gate-out.

KPA / carrier KPA Tariff 2025 · In force

Detention

Charge accruing when the carrier’s container is held after leaving the terminal and before return.

Carrier KPA Tariff 2025 · In force

EAC

East African Community

Regional bloc comprising Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC and Somalia.

EAC EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 · In forceEAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Act, 2017 · In force

GLEC

Global Logistics Emissions Council Framework

The methodology for accounting freight greenhouse gas emissions across all modes, now aligned with ISO 14083:2023.

Smart Freight Centre

ICD

Inland Container Depot

A dry port for container handling, customs clearance and storage away from the seaport.

KPA KPA Tariff 2025 · In force

IDF

Import Declaration Form

Filed with KRA before goods arrive. Fee: 2.5% of CIF value, reduced from 3.5% in 2023.

KRA Import Declaration Fee at 2.5% · In force

iCMS

Integrated Customs Management System

KRA’s electronic platform for declarations, risk profiling, assessment, release and post-clearance audit.

KRA Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) · In force

ISO 14083

ISO 14083:2023

The international standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from transport chain operations.

ISO

NTB

Non-Tariff Barrier

A trade restriction other than a tariff — quotas, licensing demands, ad hoc fees or bureaucratic delay. Reportable at tradebarriers.africa.

EAC / AfCFTA EAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Act, 2017 · In force

PVoC

Pre-Export Verification of Conformity

Mandatory inspection of regulated goods at origin by a KEBS-appointed agency before shipment to Kenya.

KEBS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) · In force

RDL

Railway Development Levy

Levy on imports funding railway infrastructure. Raised to 2% of CIF in 2024, from 1.5%.

KRA Railway Development Levy at 2% · In force

SGR

Standard Gauge Railway

Kenya’s 472 km Mombasa–Nairobi railway, extended to Naivasha. Cumulative freight passed 50 million tonnes in July 2026.

KRC

TEU

Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit

Standard unit of container capacity, equal to one 20-foot container.

ISO