How new taxes on mitumba, mobile phones will affect you
Importers will be required to pay for the tax before their consignment is released at the port or any border entry...
✨ Key Highlights
The Kenyan government is proposing new taxes on mitumba (second-hand goods) and mobile phones, aiming to simplify taxation and curb evasion, with changes set to take effect in July if approved by the National Assembly.
- A 5% presumptive tax on the value of imported used clothing, footwear, and other used articles will be levied at the point of importation.
- National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi presented the draft Finance Bill 2026, which also proposes a 25% excise duty on smartphones and related devices.
- While Mr. Mbadi claims these changes will simplify taxes and not increase costs for consumers, traders warn that the retail price of mitumba could rise by 15-20%.
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Kenya's private sector activity contracted for the second consecutive month in April, falling to 49.4 on the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), primarily driven by elevated operating costs from high fuel prices and weakened consumer demand. The government is proposing new taxes on mitumba (second-hand goods) and mobile phones, aiming to simplify taxation and curb evasion, with changes set to take effect in July if approved by the National Assembly. Del Monte Kenya has significantly contributed to Kenya's economy, exceeding Sh100 billion ($800 million) in the past two decades (2004-2024).
