Athletics Kenya’s Youth and Development Chairman, Barnaba Korir, has called on athletes to strictly comply with customs regulations to maintain positive relations with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Korir emphasized that Athletics Kenya will not intervene on behalf of athletes bringing items into the country for commercial purposes, urging athletes to follow all customs protocols.

“Rules must be followed, and athletes must adhere to them, or we risk attracting the wrath of KRA, which has been kind to us,” Korir stated. “Every item entering the country must have the name of the athlete it will benefit, and we will ensure that happens,” he added.

This statement comes after Kenyan marathoners Joyciline Jepkosgei and Daniel Ebenyo encountered unexpected issues upon their return from the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 13, 2024. The athletes claimed that KRA customs officers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) seized their belongings over concerns about customs duty.

Among the confiscated items were training shoes. Jepkosgei posted in a public athletics group to bring attention to the issue:

“We arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the Chicago Marathon and need help here at the airport. KRA officers have taken two bags of training shoes, charging Ksh 19,000 for each pair. Kindly help,” she wrote, clarifying that the shoes were for her training partners in Iten and not for commercial use.

Similarly, Ebenyo’s belongings, valued at over Ksh 350,000, were also seized, surpassing the Ksh 260,000 duty-free allowance. KRA exempts items valued under Ksh 260,000 from customs duty, but anything above that threshold is subject to taxation.

While Athletics Kenya intervened in Jepkosgei’s case, arguing that her luggage was intended to benefit her Iten training camp, the federation reiterated that athletes should adhere to KRA’s rules to avoid future conflicts.

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