The system, whose pilot phase goes live at midnight on Wednesday, is expected to facilitate international trade in Kenya by reducing delays and lowering costs associated with clearance of goods at Kenyan borders.
The National Electronic Single Window System will also maintain the vital controls and collection of levies, fees duties and taxes on imports and exports.
The Kenya Trade Network Agency General Manager for Operations, Amos Wangora said the system is projected to have cargo clearance time at the port of Mombasa reduced to a maximum of three days.
“The country aims to cut cargo clearance times at the port of Mombasa to a maximum of three days from the current seven to 14 days and at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to one day,” he said.
The single window system brings together various cargo clearance processes under one roof, reducing the time taken on paperwork and licenses.
Wangora said the trial phase has collapsed services of seven of the 24 permit issuing institutions in the country and it is expected to house all of them as the system is rolled out progressively.
“The reason for this is to manage the scope of the project and use the few as a pilot to ensure the system is working optimally before rolling it out to the rest of the government agencies,” he said.
The project will cover Mombasa and Lamu sea ports, airports, land ports and border posts.
The new system works in a paperless environment as all customs assessments and clearance are done online.