The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced plans to roll out body-worn cameras for Customs and Border Control officers in a new push to improve transparency during inspections at airports, seaports and land border points.
According to KRA, the move targets disputes that frequently arise between officers, travellers and importers during tax assessments and baggage inspections, where conflicting claims have often slowed investigations and complicated enforcement of customs duties.
“For too long, it’s been your word against mine has been an uncomfortable reality at border points. Disputes dragged on. Trust eroded. And the officers doing their jobs right had no way to prove it,” stated KRA.
Customs officers interact with thousands of passengers, traders and clearing agents daily, making border points one of the most visible government service areas where integrity, professionalism and fairness directly influence perceptions of Kenya’s governance.
“Customs is one of the most human-facing departments. Every day, officers interact with thousands of travellers, importers, and traders. These interactions shape perceptions of Kenya, of governance, of fairness,” states KRA.
KRA adds that the recordings will help eliminate the long-standing challenge of “your word against mine” that has historically complicated investigations whenever travellers or officers report disputes during routine customs checks.
The authority expects the technology to act as a deterrent against bribery and graft, as both officers and travellers will be aware that interactions during inspections and tax enforcement activities are being recorded.
KRA stresses that passengers arriving at Kenyan entry points will also experience more structured engagements with officers, as the authority works to standardise procedures and improve service delivery across busy border facilities handling international traffic daily.
With this technology, complaints that previously required weeks of internal investigations could now be resolved faster, with supervisors reviewing recorded footage to determine exactly what happened during disputed interactions between travellers and customs officers.
The move comes as the government intensifies efforts to tighten tax enforcement amid widening budget shortfalls, with rising public expenditure putting pressure on revenue collection agencies to seal leakages across multiple sectors.
According to KRA, beyond accountability, it plans to use recorded footage as a training tool to identify operational gaps, improve officer conduct and refine procedures across airports, seaports and land borders handling international trade.
“Beyond accountability, the footage becomes a tool for institutional learning. KRA can identify process gaps, improve training, and fine-tune service delivery where it matters most,” stressed the KRA-Kenyans.co.ke.