Shipping containers at Mombasa Port. (Photo: Courtesy).

More than 400 containers destined for South Sudan are grounded at Kenyan port of Mombasa after traders refused to pay the 350 US-dollar charge for the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note.

This is according to Roy Mwathi, the Chairman of Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association.

Mwanthi said the South Sudan Revenue Authority Office in Mombasa requested the traders to pay 350 US dollars for each container.

“Cargo for South Sudan is stuck in Mombasa because the South Sudanese Revenue office in Mombasa is insisting that each container has to pay 350$ levy,” he said.

The Kenyan official said the decision prompted the association to advise the South Sudan Customs authorities recently on a visit to the port, to collect the levy at the Nimule entry point.

However, he said the South Sudan Customs commissioner declined the suggestion and insisted that the payment be done in Mombasa.

“We met commissioner of Custom South Sudan three days ago, and we advised him to collect the levy from the entry point in Nimule, and he said he was not willing to collect it there he will want it collected from Mombasa.”

“We do not know what is so special that the levy must be collected from Mombasa, they are more than four hundred containers”.

He also said the consignment owners were not aware of the newly introduced tax.

“They said they are not informed and aware of the new levy. Number two, Kenyan agents are appointed by commissioner of Customs Kenya; we represent commissioner of Customs Kenya,” he stated.

“So, the Commissioner of South Sudan Customs can only order the agents of customs in Juba, South Sudan to collect levies and revenue on their behalf, he cannot overlap from South Sudan to Kenya, he cannot give us instructions.”

“They do not collect money they collect data and the entry we use is Kenyan entry.”

South Sudan Customs Authorities is yet to comment on the matter.