The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched body-worn cameras for Customs and Border Control officers to boost transparency during inspections at airports, seaports, and land borders.
KRA officials noted that the initiative aims to settle the frequent disputes between officers, travelers, and importers during tax assessments and baggage checks. In the past, conflicting stories often stalled investigations and made it difficult to collect customs duties.
Each bodycam functions as a dual-component device. A front-facing camera records high-definition video and takes photos of every interaction, capturing exactly what officers see and do. Meanwhile, a rear-facing camera allows for live video calls and sends images directly back to headquarters.
KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga called the launch a major step forward in modernizing how the agency handles service at the country’s ports of entry.
On Tuesday, Wattanga stated: “This initiative reinforces our commitment to transparency, professionalism, and secure borders as we continue to modernize service delivery for the public.”
He further noted: “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.”
Customs officers deal with thousands of passengers, traders, and clearing agents every day. These border points represent one of the most visible areas of government service, where the public’s view of Kenyan governance depends heavily on integrity, professionalism, and fairness.
For instance, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) processed about 20,342 passengers daily and over 8.9 million annually in 2025. KRA points out that this massive volume of travelers outweighs their current manpower, creating loopholes that can lead to tax evasion.
KRA expects the cameras to capture every interaction between officers and travelers, providing verifiable digital records. If someone complains about an inspection, a tax charge, or an officer’s behavior, officials can quickly review the footage to find the truth.
According to KRA, “Customs is one of the most human-facing departments. Every day, officers interact with thousands of travelers, importers, and traders. These interactions shape perceptions of Kenya, of governance, of fairness.”
The authority believes these recordings will solve the “your word against mine” problem that has long frustrated investigations when disputes break out during routine checks. By creating a clear record of events, the technology should also discourage bribery and corruption, as both travelers and officers will know the cameras are rolling during inspections and tax enforcement.
KRA highlights that passengers arriving at Kenyan entry points will encounter more organized interactions as the authority standardizes procedures. This effort aims to boost service quality at busy border facilities that manage heavy international traffic every day.
With these cameras in place, supervisors can resolve complaints much faster. Instead of waiting weeks for internal investigations, they can review recorded footage to see exactly what happened during a disagreement between a traveler and an officer.
This rollout aligns with broader government efforts to tighten tax collection and fix budget gaps. As public spending rises, revenue agencies face increasing pressure to stop any financial leaks across different sectors.
KRA also plans to use the footage as a training resource. By reviewing the videos, they can spot operational flaws, coach officers on their conduct, and sharpen procedures at airports, seaports, and land borders.
The authority added: “Public trust is not a soft metric in customs and trade. It determines whether a border facilitates economic growth or frustrates it.”
KRA believes these changes will make border interactions more transparent, accountable, and trustworthy.
To address privacy concerns, the authority clarified that all recordings will be “processed in accordance with the principles of lawful processing under the Data Protection Act, 2019 (Kenya).”
They further explained that the body-worn cameras will be used within this framework to support transparency, accountability, and proper documentation of official border interactions.
This new camera rollout is part of a much larger digital strategy. KRA has also deployed 350 handheld verification gadgets, 20 external surveillance cameras, and 60 data collection devices. To manage all this new information, the authority has built a massive 2-petabyte storage system at its Times Tower headquarters.
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