In this article
- What transit cargo at Mombasa means
- Before the vessel arrives
- At the port: release step by step
- Tracking the transit through Kenya and beyond
- Bonds and guarantees
- Free time, demurrage and detention
- Delivery: from the port gate to the border
- Common causes of delay at Mombasa
- How Haraka Freight helps
- Conclusion
For most of its customers inland, the port of Mombasa is a place their cargo passes through, not a destination. Containers for Kigali, Kampala, Bujumbura and Goma are discharged on the Kenyan coast, released under customs control and sent west along the Northern Corridor. Handling transit cargo at Mombasa well is the difference between a container that leaves the port soon after discharge and one that sits in the yard collecting charges.
This guide focuses on the port stage: what happens before the ship arrives, at the port, and as the truck sets off, and how the transit is tracked until it leaves Kenya. For the full journey to each destination, see our hub guide on how to ship cargo from Mombasa.
What transit cargo at Mombasa means
A transit consignment enters Kenya only to leave it again. Kenya's customs authority, the Kenya Revenue Authority (opens in a new tab), supervises the goods while they are on Kenyan soil, but does not collect import duties on them. In return, it needs to know that the goods really leave the country as declared.
How the transit is set up depends on the destination:
| Destination | Customs model at Mombasa |
|---|---|
| Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi | EAC Single Customs Territory: one declaration in the destination country; release authorised by the destination authority |
| DRC, South Sudan | Transit entry in Kenya, with a guarantee; import declaration at destination |
Under the Single Customs Territory, the shipping line's manifest is lodged with the port-country authority before the vessel arrives, and the destination authority issues the release once its declaration is assessed and paid or secured (Tanzania Revenue Authority explainer (opens in a new tab)).
Before the vessel arrives
The work that makes a fast release possible happens while the ship is still at sea.
- Check the bill of lading. The consignee, notify party and final destination must be right. Ask for a telex release or arrange the original bill in good time.
- Lodge the declaration or transit entry. For Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, the destination declaration can be lodged as soon as the documents are final. For the DRC, prepare the transit entry and the guarantee.
- Arrange payments. Freight charges, shipping line local charges and, for SCT destinations, duties or security at destination.
- Book the inland transport. Trucks should be ready to collect the container when it is released.
- Confirm destination permits. Regulated goods need their approvals before they move.
At the port: release step by step
When the container has been discharged, three parties must agree before it can leave:
- the shipping line, which issues the delivery order once freight and local charges are settled and the bill of lading is surrendered or telex-released;
- customs, which confirms that the transit or SCT declaration is in order and the goods can move;
- the port operator, the Kenya Ports Authority (opens in a new tab), which releases the container from the terminal once its charges are paid.
Containers may be selected for scanning or physical verification. If that happens, your agent attends and answers questions. Consistent paperwork makes these checks shorter.
Tracking the transit through Kenya and beyond
Transit trucks on the Northern Corridor are monitored through the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (opens in a new tab) (RECTS). Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda launched it in February 2017. An electronic seal is fitted to the vehicle or container; it reports the truck's location and any tampering, so customs can follow the cargo across borders without physical escorts.
For you, this means two things. The truck should follow its declared route without unexplained stops. And if the seal reports a problem, the truck may be stopped and inspected, so drivers and transporters must be reliable.
Bonds and guarantees
Where goods move on a transit entry, Kenya requires a guarantee that covers the duties that would be due if the goods stayed in Kenya. The guarantee is released when the transit is closed at the exit border, usually Malaba or Busia into Uganda. If the transit is not closed properly, the bond stays open and has to be followed up. Good forwarders track every open transit until it is discharged.
Free time, demurrage and detention
Shipping lines give a limited number of free days for the container. After that:
- storage may be charged by the terminal while the container stays in the port;
- demurrage is charged by the shipping line for a full container kept in the port beyond free time;
- detention is charged by the shipping line for a container kept outside the port, including on the road inland, beyond the free period until it is returned empty.
The exact terms depend on the shipping line and your contract. On long inland routes, detention is often the bigger risk, because the empty container has to come all the way back to Mombasa or to a designated depot. Some importers choose to devan (unpack) the cargo near the port and continue on a truck without the container. Ask your forwarder to compare both options.
Delivery: from the port gate to the border
Once the container leaves the port, the transit continues along the corridor. The truck crosses into Uganda at Malaba or Busia, where the Kenyan transit is closed. From there, the route depends on the destination:
- Rwanda: through Uganda to Gatuna/Katuna or Kagitumba/Mirama Hills; see Mombasa to Rwanda logistics.
- Eastern DRC: through Uganda directly into North Kivu, or through Rwanda to Goma or Bukavu; see Mombasa to DRC logistics.
- Burundi: through Uganda and Rwanda, or through Tanzania, depending on the border situation; see Mombasa to Burundi logistics.
Common causes of delay at Mombasa
- Bill of lading not surrendered or telex-released in time.
- Declaration lodged after the vessel has berthed.
- Consignee details that differ between documents.
- Charges unpaid at the shipping line or the port.
- Trucks not booked, so a released container waits in the yard.
- Regulated goods without destination permits.
- Selection for verification combined with incomplete paperwork.
How Haraka Freight helps
Haraka Freight International manages transit cargo from Mombasa to Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DRC, and provides transportation, warehousing and distribution in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. We check your documents before arrival, lodge the destination declaration or transit entry, coordinate release with the shipping line, customs and the port, book trucks, follow the transit across each border and handle clearance and delivery. Combine this with our customs clearance in Rwanda and road transport services for an end-to-end solution.
Conclusion
Transit cargo at Mombasa moves fastest when everything is ready before the ship arrives: the bill of lading, the declaration or transit entry, the payments, the trucks and the permits. After that, electronic tracking and well-managed bonds carry the goods to the border. If your next container is heading through Mombasa, request a quote and we will plan the port stage with you.
Sources: Kenya Ports Authority (opens in a new tab); Kenya Revenue Authority (opens in a new tab); World Customs Organization, RECTS launch (2017) (opens in a new tab); Tanzania Revenue Authority, Single Customs Territory (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
What is transit cargo at Mombasa?
Goods that are discharged at the port of Mombasa but are destined for another country, such as Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, the DRC or South Sudan. They move through Kenya under customs control and are not imported into Kenya.
Who declares transit cargo at Mombasa?
For Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, the importer's clearing agent lodges the destination declaration under the EAC Single Customs Territory, and the Kenya Revenue Authority supervises the goods while they are in Kenya. For the DRC and South Sudan, a transit entry is lodged in Kenya and the goods are imported at destination.
What is RECTS?
The Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System, launched by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in February 2017. An electronic seal on the transit vehicle reports its location and any tampering to customs.
What documents are needed to release transit cargo at Mombasa?
Typically the original or telex-released bill of lading, the commercial invoice and packing list, the customs declaration or transit entry, the shipping line's delivery order and proof that freight and port charges are paid, plus any permits for regulated goods.
How can I avoid storage and demurrage charges at Mombasa?
Lodge declarations before the vessel arrives, settle freight and port charges early, book trucks in advance and plan the empty container return. Most charges come from waiting for something that could have been prepared.
Published · Last updated
Haraka Freight International Ltd is a logistics company based at Ituze House, KG 11 Avenue, Bibare, Kigali, Rwanda. We handle freight forwarding, customs clearance, IOR/EOR and DDP shipments, warehousing, trucking and regional distribution in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, with transit cargo to Goma and Bukavu.
