Kenyans returning from abroad are set to enjoy greater tax-free shopping privileges after President William Ruto approved a significant increase in the duty-free allowance for personal belongings and gifts brought into the country.
While signing the Finance Act, 2026 at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, the President announced that the tax-free threshold has been raised from Ksh39,000 to Ksh260,000.
The revised limit is intended to ease the burden on travellers, particularly Kenyans working overseas and members of the diaspora who frequently return home with personal items and gifts for their families.
According to Ruto, the adjustment responds to concerns raised by citizens living abroad who have long argued that the previous allowance was too restrictive given current market prices and travel realities.
The new provision means travellers will be able to bring in a wider range of personal effects and purchased goods without attracting import duties, offering substantial savings upon arrival.
The increase marks one of the most notable changes contained in the Finance Act, 2026, and represents more than a sixfold jump from the previous duty-free limit.
The legislation was enacted after lawmakers approved the Finance Bill, with amendments, paving the way for presidential assent and implementation of the new measures.
The move is expected to benefit thousands of returning travellers each year, particularly diaspora workers who regularly transport personal purchases and gifts back to Kenya.
