Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has implemented an advanced cargo surveillance system enabling customs officials to track transit trucks in real time from the Port of Mombasa to border destinations such as Malaba and beyond. This initiative aims to strengthen border control and prevent revenue losses along the Northern Corridor.
According to KRA, this forms part of their modernization efforts to enhance cargo security and aligns with Presidential directives for upgrading customs operations, which generate over 90 percent of Kenya’s revenue.
The core of this system is the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), a digital monitoring platform utilizing electronic tracking devices installed on transit cargo trucks.
“This is a sophisticated device costing approximately Ksh300,000 per unit. Once installed on a truck, it transmits signals to our command center at Times Towers in Nairobi. Prior to installation, the device is programmed with multiple parameters enabling it to track the vehicle anywhere it goes,” explained Joseph Mucoki, Manager of the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), during a visit to the Mombasa Port customs facilities.
“The Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System has enhanced real-time monitoring of transit and export goods. This has helped prevent dumping and cargo theft along the Northern corridor,” added KRA Deputy Acting Commissioner, Customs and Border Control, Southern Region, Swalleh Faraj.
Before trucks are equipped with tracking devices, transporters must be registered on the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) as compliant transit operators. The vehicles themselves are also profiled and cleared within the system before being permitted to carry transit goods across borders.
Drivers must obtain a special license from KRA, confirming their eligibility. This license ensures both the driver and vehicle are fully documented within the customs digital ecosystem before any movement is authorized.
After cargo is scanned at the port and cleared through other freight verification processes, drivers present their documents for compliance checks.
Shipment details, driver information, and transport company data are verified before the RECTS team installs the tracking device.
The device, typically mounted at the rear of the container, is attached using a strong industrial magnet that secures it to the truck. This ensures it remains fixed throughout the journey along the transit corridor, even during long-distance travel and rough road conditions.
To support nationwide implementation, KRA has deployed National Youth Service (NYS) officers to assist with device installation. Once fitted, the device is activated through a mobile application system operated by KRA officers, immediately connecting the truck to the central command system.
When activated, the system displays real-time data, including the driver’s details, photograph, and route information. This allows customs officials to continuously monitor movement from control centers in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Through the system, KRA can determine where a truck has stopped, the duration of each stop, and whether it has followed its approved route. Any deviation from the designated path triggers an alert within the monitoring system.
Officials report that the system establishes a geo-fenced corridor, typically within 100 meters of the designated route. Any vehicle moving outside this corridor is flagged as potentially missing or non-compliant and is immediately subject to investigation.
In instances where a truck breaks down, transport companies must formally notify KRA and seek authorization for route adjustments. Enforcement teams stationed along the corridor then coordinate with the operator to manage the situation and ensure cargo integrity is maintained.
KRA further notes that each tracking device is configured for a lifespan of about 60 days, although most transit journeys, such as from Mombasa to the Kenya-Uganda border, typically take only three to four days under normal conditions.
Through RECTS, KRA states it can now monitor “anything along the geo-mapped road,” providing complete visibility of transit cargo movement across the Northern Corridor.
According to the tax authority, the system represents a shift from traditional methods, aimed at reducing cargo diversion, improving compliance, and safeguarding government revenue.