ICTworks by Inveneo

At Inveneo, we've learned the hard way that getting information and communication technology equipment to different countries in Africa can be a challenge, but even we are surprised some days. Here's an email we received from one of our Inveneo Certified ICT Partners about a recent shipment of computers:

On the import documentation, we declared the shipment as "computers", which do not carry any duties. But when the customs agents read "LCD" on commercial invoice, they said LCD's are televisions, which caries duty. Then they read "Keyboard" and said keyboards are on musical instruments, which also carries duty. We've protested the classifications and are waiting for a detailed inspection next week.

Yes, it sounds strange, but events like this are common when you ship technology to Africa. Luckily, Inveneo has developed a method to the freight forwarder madness that usually avoids issues like this. Wanna learn how we do it? Then watch this video:

But why worry about all this hassle? Work with an Inveneo Certified ICT Partner, and focus on your implementation, not equipment importation.

If you want to send computers or other technology hardware to Africa, how do you do it? You can't just walk down the to Post Office and put a stamp on the outside of the computer box and mail it to Nigeria. Okay, so you could, but you'd have many problems.

First, your package might make it to a regional post office in the country, but it would take ages and when it arrived, the recipient would have to pay whatever customs and duties the local postmaster thought was due on the equipment. That might work for a random present, but isn't the best way to ship equipment to Africa.

At Inveneo, we've learned the hard way that getting information and communication technology equipment to different countries in Africa can be a challenge, but there is a method to the freight forwarder madness. By using tools like a Shipper's Letter of Instruction, in addition to the Commercial Invoice, and requiring a Form M for Nigerian shipments, we've made the shipment of technology equipment to Africa an easy process.

And we've even made a video to explain the process:

Like Glenn Stewart and Colm Pelow say, the equipment goes via air freight, riding in the same planes that haul people from the USA to Africa. But unlike your luggage, air freight cargo doesn't get delivered to the Arrivals baggage claim at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It goes to the customs clearinghouse for review and import duty payment. From there, a local shipping agent can retrieve your equipment and have it delivered to the implementation site.

But why worry about all this hassle? Work with an Inveneo Certified ICT Partner, and focus on your implementation, not equipment importation.

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To great fanfare, Kenya Revenue Authority eliminated customs duties on the import of new computers into Kenya recently. Their FAQ even says:

Andris preparing computers for shipping

Q7. What duties are levied on computers?

Computers and computer parts do not attract any duty. However, printers attract import duty at the rate of 10% and VAT at the rate of 16%.

But do not let that lull you into thinking that there isn't a cost associated with importing computers into Kenya.

While there isn't an actual duty, there are still fees. You'll need to pay at least 5,000 Kenyan Shillings ($65 USD), plus 2.25% of the total value, to process the Import Declaration Fee (IDF) which is payable to the government. Then you'll also need to pay a licensed clearing agent a handling fee to clear the computing equipment at customs.

These fees are in addition to any shipping costs to get your computer equipment from its point of origin to either the Port of Mombasa or one of Kenya's international airports.