High Court Suspends KRA’s New CRSP Schedule for Used Motor Vehicles
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has revised its Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) schedule for used vehicles for the first time since 2019, impacting duty for importers and buyers.
CN Quick Facts
- The High Court suspended KRA’s revised CRSP schedule pending a full hearing, freezing its planned 1 July 2025 rollout
- The suspension stays both the 22 May 2025 circular and the 30 May 2025 public notice announcing the new schedule
- A petitioner argued the schedule was introduced without meaningful public participation, breaching Articles 10 and 201 of the Constitution
- The order runs until 17 July 2025, when the case returns to court for further mention
- Until the court rules, customs valuation for used vehicle imports continues under the outgoing 2019 CRSP list
Editor’s Note (updated): The suspension described below was lifted following the court’s determination of the case. The revised CRSP schedule is now in active use, covering more than 5,200 vehicle models. Details in this article reflect the status of the case at the time of the original court order.
The High Court has temporarily suspended the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) revised Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) schedule for used motor vehicles, halting its rollout just a day before it was due to take effect.
High Court Suspends KRA’s New CRSP Schedule: What the Order Means Right Now
KRA had planned to implement the first major revision to its CRSP schedule since 2019, effective 1 July 2025 – see our full breakdown of what the new schedule changed. That rollout is now on hold after the High Court certified an urgent application to stop it, pending determination of a case challenging how the schedule was introduced.
Why did the court suspend the CRSP schedule?
The petitioner argued that the new CRSP list was introduced without meaningful public participation, in violation of constitutional requirements under Article 10 and Article 201, which mandate inclusive engagement in legislative and public finance processes. The petition claims KRA’s stakeholder consultations focused narrowly on car dealers, excluding consumers and the wider public who would ultimately feel the effects.
The court’s interim order specifically stays the circular dated 22 May 2025 (Ref: C&BC/HQ/1), titled “Forwarding of the Updated CRSP List,” along with the public notice published on KRA’s website on 30 May 2025. The petition also challenges the 30-day implementation notice as unreasonably short, and points to errors identified in the draft schedule, including vehicle models omitted entirely and others matched to incorrect specifications. KRA maintains it held extensive stakeholder engagement before publishing the revised figures.
How will this affect car buyers and importers?
Immediate relief for importers: For now, vehicles continue to be valued under the outgoing 2019 CRSP list, meaning import costs on models like the Mazda Axela, Toyota Belta, or Nissan X-Trail remain unchanged from before the announced revision.
Temporary planning window: Dealers and importers get additional time to adjust sourcing and pricing strategies rather than absorbing a sudden cost jump.
Ongoing uncertainty: The relief is explicitly temporary. Should the court later allow KRA to proceed, the revised schedule – and the higher duty costs that come with it – would still take effect, just on a delayed timeline.
Key Details
- Court: High Court, interim orders issued by the presiding judge
- What’s suspended: The 22 May 2025 KRA circular and the 30 May 2025 public notice on the revised CRSP schedule
- Next court date: 17 July 2025
- Petitioner’s argument: Lack of meaningful public participation under Articles 10 and 201 of the Constitution
- KRA’s position: Maintains it conducted extensive stakeholder engagement ahead of publishing the revised list
- Current status: 2019 CRSP list remains in effect until the court rules
What’s Next?
The case returns to court on 17 July 2025, when a judge will determine whether the revised CRSP schedule proceeds as planned, is revised, or is set aside entirely. CarNews KE will publish an update as soon as the court reaches a decision.
Conclusion
The suspension buys time, not certainty. Importers and buyers should treat the 2019 CRSP figures as the operative valuation for now, while watching for the 17 July court date to know whether the revised schedule – and the higher duty it brings – will still take effect.
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