The very high season and the festive season this 2023 will convoy thousands of tourists to Kenya.
For those about to disembark in the country from Nairobi and Mombasa airports, it is useful, if not necessary, a review of the international rules for importing items, objects, products and personal belongings in suitcases from abroad into the African country, as well as on money, valuables and prohibitions that can generate penalties.
In order to give you exact information we refer, in addition to our direct sources, to the communiqués sent by the Kenyan government to the International Air Transport Association.
To adhere to the most stringent and effective methods of screening in airport customs, Kenya has implemented the use of modern scanners that screen luggage with the same search definition as those found in Western international airports and state-of-the-art destinations.

VALUES

Kenya does not allow tourists to carry more than $10,000 in cash per person or the equivalent in other currency. A customs declaration is required for bills exceeding this amount.
There has also recently been a rule enforced that important undeclared valuables be assessed and taxed if they exceed $500. Obviously this does not apply to personal items, but if, for example, the tourist is found in possession of 3 valuable watches, two will be assessed and the same thing will happen if there are new and/or still-wrapped items in the suitcase without a receipt.
Therefore, if you bring new items, if they are for personal use it is best to unwrap them from their packaging, if they are for gifts provide a receipt, to avoid summary assessments. In case you exceed $500 in value, the goods will be taxed according to import laws.
Household effects included conditionally are exempt from duty. These are items such as carpets, paintings, tableware, linens and similar household furnishings; tools of the trade, professional books, tools and instruments. For customs purposes, clothing, jewelry, photographic equipment and portable radios are considered personal effects, but cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived for personal effects over one year old.
 

DRONES

The import of Drones in practice is prohibited. Foreigners, both residents and tourists, will only be allowed to rent drones from local owners, but not to import or use their own, even if only to create video or photographic content and film their vacations.
Anyone found in possession of a drone that is not properly reported risks not only the seizure of the machine, but also a hefty fine.
Since they are considered unmanned aircraft, the purchase and use of drones are regulated by the government through the Kenya Civil and Aviation Authority (KCAA), but local authorities are also authorized for verification, whether for personal use or professional use.
Regarding professional use, one must register and apply for a flight permit from the KCAA in advance, and if one plans to use the drone for commercial purposes, a pilot must obtain a Remote Aircraft Operator's Certificate (ROC) from the Authority.
The following documents are required: ID, police clearance certificate, company registration, photo of the drone and wiring diagram, a clear photo of the drone serial number, and safety documentation containing emergency procedures in case of failure.

BACCHUS AND TOBACCO
What used to be possible to manage to stow and conceal and get through customs unscathed is now at risk of being checked and seized, especially if alcohol and tobacco are involved.
In fact, remember that the maximum allowed for cigarettes is 200 pieces (10 packs) or 50 cigars. For alcohol, on the other hand, no more than one bottle of hard liquor over 13 degrees can be brought in the suitcase. In the case of wine bottles, although many official sources report only one, one per suitcase is usually accepted, as are perfume bottles. Among the reported prohibitions, interestingly, in addition to fruit and plants (which must obtain special permission) are meat and poultry sausages. One expedient for those who want to bring more than one alcoholic beverage or bottle of wine is to add one purchased at the Duty Free Shop to those in the suitcase and brought in the special bag, still sealed, as carry-on luggage.

PURCHASED FOODS AND PRODUCTS
Remember also that any new product with a receipt or packaged by the company selling it may be subject to taxation. This can also apply to vacuum-packed jars and other packaging, especially if they are products that can also be found in Kenya.
Even products packaged personally in a homemade manner could be subjected to the same treatment, as the plastic in the packages must bear a mark to not be considered outlawed, so it is better to use trays or not wrap them in plastic.

As for medicines, if there are multiple packages, you must carry the prescription that authorized their purchase, translated into English. (Example: more than one package of psychotropic drugs, or bag of various medicines that you intend to donate to non-profit organizations or directly to health facilities.) For any donation, from clothes to useful items, in the case of new material it always pays to have receipts with you and possibly a letter from the association that is going to receive them. By law, the authorities are not required to take your word for it if you claim that, for example, a lot of children's clothes are for a school that you help in a personal capacity. The charge that can be brought against you is that you brought them to sell them, so in the case of used items whose provenance and receipts you cannot provide, the risk is that you will pay a surcharge and (as is often the case) be subject to extortion attempts.

Also remember that plastic bags without brands and labels of the company that produces or distributes the products are banned: Kenya has banned their use on national soil since 2019.

OTHER ITEMS.

You risk seizure and police arrest for: toy guns and weapons (of the real ones, even if duly reported in Italy, it is useless to talk), spear guns and spear guns, ivory objects and fetishes or ornaments made from animals that also live in Kenya, sex toys (as well as pornographic magazines or videos).

In any case, more caution is recommended at entry and an awareness that not every officer who cares to enforce rules that do exist is doing so to try to pocket a bribe from you. Kenya's law, moreover, in cases of cash demands or attempts at "adjustment," punishes both the bribe-giver and the bribe-giver. So don't ever be the first to propose such deals (and possibly reject them when immigration officials or airport authorities are the ones offering them to you as the only way out). In international arrivals, if you look closely, telephone numbers of the anti-corruption bureau or enforcement personnel are posted somewhere.
Remember, however, that with a humble and respectful attitude, unhoped-for results are often achieved....