Eldoret — President William Ruto on Tuesday announced plans to abolish the 25 per cent import duty on mobile phones, saying the government will pursue the necessary legal and regional customs processes to make the devices more affordable for Kenyans.
Speaking during the 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Ruto described a mobile phone as no longer a luxury but an essential tool. “A mobile phone is no longer a luxury. It is a classroom, a marketplace, a bank, and an office for many young Kenyans, a gateway to employment,” he said. He added that lowering the cost would enable more people to participate in the digital economy.
The proposal is one of four measures the President said the National Treasury would table before Parliament next week. The others include exempting workers earning Ksh32,333 or less per month from PAYE, removing stamp duty on land and property transactions valued at Ksh1 million or less, and expanding the public service internship programme to 50,000 young people from January 2027.
The 25 per cent import duty on mobile phones took effect from July 1, 2026, after Kenya applied a stay on the East African Community’s Common External Tariff, which had previously set the rate at zero. Imported phones currently attract the duty alongside other levies such as VAT, excise duty and the railway development levy, contributing to higher retail prices.
Ruto directed the Treasury to present the proposals to Parliament for consideration. Implementation will depend on the required legal changes and any necessary adjustments within the EAC customs framework. No specific timeline for the duty’s removal was given beyond the commitment to pursue the processes.
The announcement comes amid ongoing efforts to expand digital access and ease the cost of living for ordinary Kenyans.