KILELESHWA, 7th Oct 2026 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has impounded 529 assorted electronic items valued at Sh13 million in an intelligence-led operation at a residential apartment in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.
In a statement issued Thursday, KRA said its enforcement officers acted on intelligence that a foreign national was allegedly operating an illegal business involving the movement and storage of electronic goods without complying with customs and tax requirements.
The Authority said residential premises were being used for unauthorized commercial storage and retail.
“The intelligence indicated that a foreign national was allegedly operating an illegal business involving the movement and storage of electronic goods without complying with applicable customs and tax requirements,” the statement reads in part.
Officers recovered 358 laptops comprising 269 Dell, 83 HP and 6 Lenovo units, 9 iPad Mini units, and 162 assorted accessories including 150 Bluetooth devices, 6 laptop chargers and 6 laptop batteries.
The goods are suspected to have been smuggled into the country without payment of requisite taxes and duties. They have been taken into KRA custody pending verification, investigations and determination of applicable customs and tax obligations.
KRA said the operation is part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt illicit trade, protect government revenue and ensure compliance.
The Authority raised concern over the emerging trend where residential premises are being used as warehouses for commercial goods, noting that some traders operating small retail outlets in Nairobi’s city centre use apartments to store suspected smuggled goods.
“Such practices not only undermine revenue collection but also create an uneven business environment for legitimate traders who meet their tax and customs obligations,” KRA said.
The seizure is part of KRA’s broader mandate to facilitate legitimate trade while enforcing compliance. The Authority urged traders and members of the public to report suspected cases of smuggling and tax evasion through its official channels, including the iWhistle platform.
Further investigations are ongoing to establish the source of the goods, how they entered the country and persons or businesses linked to the suspected offences.
