Importers have protested closure of two Container Freight Stations (CFS) in Mombasa, saying the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) did not give them notice to clear their cargo. Association of Importers of Kenya (AIK) chairman Peter Mambembe said the closure of Autoport and Portside CFSs was unprocedural, and asked the taxman to immediately open the facilities so that importers could pick their goods. On Thursday morning, clearing agents and more than 600 workers found the gates secured with padlocks and seals. “How can the KRA shut down a CFS with thousands of containers destined for various locations including South Sudan?“It seems there are some forces that influenced this because even the KRA knows it is illegal,” said Mr Mambembe. Mr Kyalo Kaloki, an official of Logistics Link who claimed three of their vehicles were locked in the CFS, noted that they would incur huge expenses if they were not allowed to pick them.

Receive cargo

The closure follows a letter Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) sent to the stations’ management, notifying them that they would not be allowed to receive cargo from the port of Mombasa. “It has been decided that nomination of containers to your CFS be suspended with immediate effect,” managing director Gichiri Ndua said in the letter dated January 21, without giving reason for the action. The CFSs have not been receiving cargo despite an order issued by a Mombasa court instructing the KPA to continue sending cargo to the stations. The High Court in Mombasa issued the orders until the hearing and determination of the case filed by Autoports Freight Terminals and Portside Freight Terminals. The companies were granted leave to apply for an order to prohibit the KPA, its servants, agents, employees or any persons under it from interfering or continuing with any further suspension of nomination of containers to their freight stations. The case will be mentioned within 21 days for further directions of the court.

Source: Business Daily

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