Consumers and businesses in Kenya should brace for increased prices and shipment delays as new inspection and phytosanitary fees for agricultural imports and exports come into effect from Saturday.

The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has introduced charges that will impact goods transported by both sea and air, affecting key agricultural exports such as flowers, avocados, coffee, and tea.

Imports of fertilisers, animal and vegetable fats, and oils will also attract the new levies.

Following a consultation between the Kenya Ship Agents Association (KSAA) and KEPHIS in Mombasa on Thursday, shipping stakeholders raised concerns about the widespread effects of the charges.

 KSAA Deputy Chair Auni Bhaiji emphasised that while the necessary labour and equipment were already in place, the added costs would ultimately be passed on to consumers.

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“The labour is already there. The equipment is there. When you put all this together, mama mboga is going to pay for this,” Bhaiji stated highlighting how the fees would eventually burden ordinary consumers.

Under the new structure, cargo inspection fees at Mombasa Port will be Sh2,000 for a 20-foot container and Sh500 for a 40-foot container.

Air shipments of agricultural goods will incur a charge of Sh0.50 per kilogram, with a minimum fee of Sh100 per consignment.

Additionally, each phytosanitary certificate and inspection will cost Sh500, while importers will be required to pay Sh600 for a plant import permit.

KEPHIS Managing Director Theophilus Mutui defended the charges, stating that the fees are meant to uphold trade standards and prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

“Vessels and sea containers need to be inspected for cleanliness, and they need to be cleaned to remove any dust, debris, and residue that could be there,” he said, adding, “This is to reduce the spread and transport of pests and diseases.”

However, traders and shipping agents have criticised the new fees, arguing that they duplicate existing services provided by Kenya Port Health and could lead to further supply chain disruptions.

SAA CEO Elijah Mbaru warned that the additional inspections would significantly slow down operations, given the volume of containers handled at the port.

“There will be a huge delay. How many containers are there? One ship has got 1,000 containers or more,” Mbaru said, warning of possible logistical bottlenecks at the port.

The East African Tea Trade Association also expressed concerns that the additional costs could hurt the competitiveness of Kenyan exports in global markets.

Despite the opposition, the government is pressing ahead with the implementation, with the pilot phase set to begin this weekend, covering inbound and outbound sea vessels and containers to ensure compliance with phytosanitary standards.