The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has began auctioning unclaimed goods at the Port of Mombasa.
Speaking during the auction on Tuesday at the Kilindini Customs Warehouse, KRA Manager in charge of Port Operations, Mr Joseph Kaguru, warned cartels to stay away from the exercise.
Kaguru said the exercise was undertaken in a bid to ease congestion at the port, as the goods had stayed at the facility for a long time.
“Adequate time was given to potential buyers who at the fall of the hammer and upon payment of a 25 per cent of total auction price on offer, starts the process of taking over the goods on offer,” said Kaguru.
The manager, however, said that the payment paid before the fall of the hammer is non-refundable, adding that full payment should be done within 48 hours of sale.
“Whereas the balance is not paid as specified, the bid shall lapse and the lot in respect of which such balance is outstanding shall be re-offered for sale at the next auction,'' Kaguru said.
Some of the goods that were auctioned include car tyres, construction material, cooking oil, citric acid , ladies shoes and rice.
Motor vehicles will be auctioned at the port on Tuesday, next week.