The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has raised alarm over increasing cases of smuggling through Lake Victoria, urging stronger multi-sectoral collaboration to dismantle the illegal trade networks operating across regional borders.
Speaking at the Kisumu Port on Wednesday, KRA Western Regional Manager Dominic King’ara revealed that the authority intercepted contraband goods worth Sh3.2 million in the last financial year, a sharp rise from Sh1.9 million seized in 2022/2023.
King’ara said the smuggled goods, mainly sugar, originated from neighboring countries within the East African Community (EAC) bloc and were ferried into the country using wooden fishing boats to evade customs checks.
Despite the surge in illicit trade, the KRA boss lauded the growing efficiency and output of the Kisumu Port, noting a remarkable increase in revenue collection. The port posted Sh107 million in the 2024/2025 financial year, a threefold jump from Sh35 million recorded the previous year.
King’ara called for closer coordination among law enforcement agencies, maritime authorities, and local communities to curb smuggling and protect legitimate trade in the region.
