East Africa · Import guide
🇰🇪 Importing machinery into Kenya
Kenya allows used construction equipment up to around 8 years old and requires a PVOC (Pre-Export Verification of Conformity) certificate from KEBS. Used rollers face 100% inspection. Confirm the exact age cut-off for your machine type before shipping.
- Used age limit
- ≈ 8 years from year of manufacture
- Emission requirement
- No specific tier surfaced for off-road machinery
- Inspection / conformity
- PVOC (KEBS) Certificate of Conformity required; 100% inspection on used rollers
- Main ports
- Mombasa
Reviewed 2026-06. Rules change — always reconfirm before committing a shipment.
Good to know
- PVOC must be arranged before shipment — we coordinate the inspection.
- Age is counted from year of manufacture, not purchase year.
- Mombasa is the main port of entry for RoRo and container cargo.
Typical export documents
We prepare and coordinate these for every shipment:
- Commercial invoice & packing list
- Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) & bill of lading
- Inspection / conformity certificate (PVOC (KEBS) Certificate of Conformity required)
- Certificate of origin & insurance
Kenya — questions
Answers, straight up
Can you import used heavy machinery into Kenya?
Kenya allows used construction equipment up to around 8 years old and requires a PVOC (Pre-Export Verification of Conformity) certificate from KEBS. Used rollers face 100% inspection. Confirm the exact age cut-off for your machine type before shipping.
What is the used-equipment age limit for Kenya?
As of 2026-06: ≈ 8 years from year of manufacture. Age is counted from the year of manufacture. Confirm the live figure for your machine type before committing.
What inspection or certificate does Kenya require?
PVOC (KEBS) Certificate of Conformity required; 100% inspection on used rollers. We arrange the required inspection or conformity certificate as part of the export process.