DP World has signed a long-term agreement with Kenya’s Electronic Citizen Solutions (eCitizen) to integrate its CARGOES Customs platform into the government’s flagship services portal, marking a significant step in modernizing trade processes.
The signing took place in Nairobi on 22 September 2025, formalizing a deal that will give importers, exporters, and authorized customs agents access to one of the most advanced systems globally for handling customs declarations. The move is expected to streamline cross-border trade while improving compliance and revenue collection for the Kenyan government.
Mahmood AlBastaki, Chief Operating Officer of Digital Trade Solutions at DP World, said the partnership reflects the company’s wider commitment to supporting efficient and secure global trade. “Our partnership with eCitizen to expand the use of CARGOES Customs marks a major step forward in making trade in Kenya faster and more secure for merchants, traders and customs authorities,” he said.
He added that DP World’s digital solutions aim to enhance the global supply chain, emphasizing that CARGOES Customs is designed to simplify trade procedures while offering advanced risk management tools to customs authorities.
The eCitizen platform already plays a pivotal role in Kenya’s trade ecosystem. It serves as the central access point for government services, including payments to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), and supports electronic transactions via digital wallets and bank transfers. With the integration of CARGOES Customs, traders and government agencies will now have a modern alternative to the current legacy system used by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs Department.
The system will introduce AI-driven tools for risk management, revenue collection, and compliance monitoring. For customs officers, this means improved inspection processes and enhanced operational efficiency, while for traders it promises faster clearance times and reduced uncertainty at border points.
Evid Sibi, Director of Electronic Citizen Solutions, highlighted the importance of creating transparency and simplicity in complex systems. “At ECS, simplifying complex systems into transparent, practical solutions is at the heart of what we do. We’re proud to partner with industry leader DP World to deliver a next-generation digital customs platform that accelerates Kenya’s digital transformation,” he said.
The rollout also aligns with Kenya’s broader digitalization strategy, which has seen major investments in e-governance and trade facilitation platforms over the past decade. For logistics companies, freight forwarders, and breakbulk operators, the introduction of CARGOES Customs could reduce bottlenecks that have historically slowed down project cargo movements through the country’s ports.
Kenya remains a critical logistics hub in East Africa, with the Port of Mombasa serving as a key gateway for regional trade. Industry analysts note that delays in customs clearance have long been cited as a cost driver for shippers and logistics firms operating in the region. A streamlined digital platform integrated directly into eCitizen is expected to mitigate many of these challenges by providing a more predictable and transparent customs environment.
As part of DP World’s global Digital Trade Solutions strategy, the Kenyan agreement adds to a growing list of countries adopting the CARGOES platform. The company has positioned the system as an enabler for governments seeking to modernize their customs operations while aligning with global best practices in trade facilitation.
