The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has scheduled a stakeholder forum for September 23, 2026, to validate its revised position on a proposed permit processing fee for ICT equipment imports, following months of public consultation.
The regulator is proposing permit processing fees of Ksh15,000 for commercial use and Ksh5,000 for non commercial or personal use ICT equipment imported through the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS). In a public notice issued on Wednesday, September 9, the authority said it had reviewed submissions received during the public participation exercise on the proposed charges and would present its revised position to stakeholders for validation before the proposal moves to the next stage.
The Authority explained that in a bid to promote a sustainable and efficient permit clearance process on NESWS, it had developed a consultation paper on the proposed permit fees, which was subjected to public and stakeholder representations. It added that having reviewed the representations received, it wished to conduct a stakeholder validation exercise on September 23, 2026.
The charges would apply specifically to permit processing through NESWS, an electronic platform hosted by KenTrade to facilitate clearance and trade processes involving various government agencies. The move follows earlier consultations in which industry players and other stakeholders raised concerns over the additional cost of importing ICT equipment, though the Authority has maintained that the fees are necessary.
The proposal was first floated in a consultation paper dated March 3, 2026, and formally announced in a public notice on March 17, 2026, with an initial deadline of April 30, 2026, for written submissions. The upcoming forum represents the next formal step in that process, giving stakeholders including importers, customs clearing agents, licensees, and members of the public an opportunity to review and respond to CA’s amended proposal before it advances further.
The fee structure, if adopted, would affect sectors that rely heavily on ICT imports, including telecommunications, e-commerce, cybersecurity, broadcasting, and courier services. The outcome of the September 23 validation exercise is expected to determine whether the fee proposal proceeds toward implementation or undergoes further revision based on stakeholder input.
