CORRIDOR GUIDE · UNITED STATES → KENYA · CHECKED 6 OCTOBER 2026
Importing machinery from United States to Kenya
The fastest sea leg is 64 days from Houston. At the border, machinery pays 0% import duty and 20.5% in VAT and levies on the customs value.
Sea routes from United States
| From | To | Sea days | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Mombasa | 64 | searates.com |
Transshipment through Singapore, Port Klang or Colombo adds 5–10 days.
What sea freight costs
Published prices from forwarders' rate lists — benchmarks, not a quote.
| ANY LANE, BY MACHINE SIZE | ||
|---|---|---|
| RoRo · small excavator, 8–15 t | $3,000–$5,000 | Jul 2026 · yiqihangmachinery.com |
| RoRo · mid-size excavator, 20–30 t | $4,000–$8,000 | Jul 2026 · yiqihangmachinery.com |
| RoRo · large excavator, 35–50 t | $8,000–$18,000 | Jul 2026 · yiqihangmachinery.com |
| Flat rack · small excavator, 8–15 t | $5,500–$8,500 | Jul 2026 · yiqihangmachinery.com |
| Flat rack · mid-size excavator, 20–30 t | $8,000–$12,000 | Jul 2026 · yiqihangmachinery.com |
| Flat rack · large excavator, 35–50 t | $15,000–$25,000 | Jul 2026 · yiqihangmachinery.com |
Taxes when it lands in Kenya
- Import duty · 0%
- $0
- VAT · 16%
- $16,000
- Import declaration fee · 2.5%
- $2,500
- Railway development levy · 2%
- $2,000
- Total on a $100,000 customs value
- $20,500
Before it leaves United States: KEBS pre-export verification (PVoC): the machine is inspected before loading and a certificate of conformity issued. Used construction machinery must be no more than 20 years from manufacture, with service records showing it is serviceable.