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In a new KRA auction notice, the taxman has given owners of overstayed goods at four Rift Valley customs warehouses 30 days to clear them, or see them sold at an online auction from 28 to 31 December 2026. The notices, published in the Kenya Gazette on 6 November 2026 under section 42 of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004, cover the Eldoret, Naivasha, Nakuru and Lodwar warehouses, according to reports by People Daily, Tuko and The Eastleigh Voice, which reproduced the notice text.
Sales will run on KRA’s online auction portal, ibid.kra.go.ke. Buyers can view the goods at the warehouses on 23 and 24 December 2026 during official working hours.
On this page
What is in the KRA auction
The KRA auction lists the following lots by warehouse:
| Customs warehouse | Main goods listed |
|---|---|
| Eldoret (including Eldoret International Airport) | 430 used smartphones in 10 packages, a further 40 smartphones, 5 laptops and a piano, 49 Plantronics Blackwire earphones, 320 assorted perfumes, and several consignments of ethanol in 250-litre drums |
| Naivasha | 1,472 packages of mineral fibre ceiling boards and ceiling grids |
| Nakuru | 927 cartons of tiles and 125 bags of sugar |
| Lodwar | 665 empty beer crates from several owners |
The reports say the airport electronics arrived between June 2023 and September 2025. Some Lodwar items have been held since 2022.
How owners can stop the KRA auction sale
Under section 42 of the EAC Customs Management Act, goods left in a customs warehouse past the allowed period can be treated as abandoned. The notice gives owners 30 days from 6 November to enter the goods and remove them from the warehouse keeper’s custody. In practice, that means lodging the customs entry, paying any duty, VAT and storage charges due, and collecting the goods. An owner who misses the deadline loses the goods, and they are sold.
Importers who are not sure whether their consignment is listed should check the Gazette notice and contact the KRA Rift Valley region customs office. Clearing agents should check their open entries too.
How to bid in the KRA auction
- Register on ibid.kra.go.ke using your KRA PIN.
- Inspect the lots on 23 or 24 December. Goods are generally sold as they are, so check used phones and laptops carefully.
- Bid during the 28 to 31 December window and follow the portal’s payment and collection instructions.
Our KRA car auction guide explains how the iBid deposit and payment process works, and how to spot fake “KRA auction” adverts. Only bid on the official portal, and never pay an agent who promises a guaranteed lot.
Why it matters
Customs auctions let KRA clear warehouse space and recover duties on goods that importers abandon. For small traders, the December KRA auction offers phones, tiles and building materials below retail price. Buyers should still budget for transport and repairs, and check that any phone they buy can be registered on a Kenyan network.
Frequently asked questions
When is the KRA December 2026 auction?
It runs online on 28, 29, 30 and 31 December 2026 at ibid.kra.go.ke, with viewing on 23 and 24 December.
Which warehouses are in the KRA auction?
The customs warehouses in Eldoret (including Eldoret International Airport), Naivasha, Nakuru and Lodwar.
Can an owner still claim the goods?
Yes. Owners have 30 days from the 6 November 2026 notice to enter the goods and remove them from the warehouse before they are treated as abandoned.
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