Kenyan manufacturers in the toughest phase, masked with a crippling cash flow crisis resulting from unpaid billions in Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds, undermining the country’s export competitiveness and industrial growth potential.
The situation creates a significant gap between monthly refund claims (Sh5 billion) and budget allocations (Sh2.5 billion), despite exporters being legally entitled to reclaim input VAT on materials and services used to produce zero-rated goods.
As the try to adjust, manufacturers across sectors like steel, confectionery, and vehicle production are implementing ‘voluntary export restraint,’ directly translating to lost jobs, foreign exchange, and economic growth as businesses struggle to maintain operations.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers proposes a comprehensive solution including a timebound, legally-backed refund mechanism with penalties for delays, a dedicated VAT refund fund to prevent budget-related disruptions, and enhanced digital integration to streamline processing.
Unlike competitive export markets such as South Africa, Singapore, and Egypt, which process refunds within 21-45 days through efficient systems, Kenya’s unpredictable refund timeline creates investment uncertainty that disproportionately impacts capital-intensive export industries operating on thin margins.
Resolving this issue would not only unlock business potential but strengthen investor confidence and reinforce Kenya’s position as a regional industrial leader.
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