A clearing agent for commercial furniture and fittings has to start with an uncomfortable fact: in October 2025, President Ruto directed that furniture imports from China “must end” as part of a push to revive local timber, and the legal scope of that directive was still being clarified. If you import office, retail, hospitality or institutional furniture and fittings, policy risk now sits alongside customs risk, and the first job is to establish where you stand.

First, Check the Policy Backdrop

Since 2020, state agencies have been restricted from importing furniture, and the October 2025 directive signalled a broader push. Whether and how this affects private commercial importers is something to confirm directly, not assume. Our furniture import guide sets out what we know and why you should verify current guidance before placing any large order.

What Counts as Commercial Fittings

Fit-out cargo often includes shelving, counters, display cases, partitions, doors, lighting, signage, glass and cabinetry, alongside loose furniture. These classify differently from furniture proper, and mixing them on one vague invoice invites reassessment. Itemise them by type, material and value, and agree the HS split with your agent before shipping.

Wood Treatment and Packaging

Solid-wood items need fumigation or heat treatment, and wooden crates and pallets must comply with ISPM 15. Confirm treatment documentation with your supplier before shipping; untreated wood can hold an entire container at the border, however compliant the goods inside are.

Quality and Conformity

KEBS has been cracking down on substandard furniture, and many furniture and fitting categories go through pre-export verification. Composite boards raise their own questions on emissions, and plastic or upholstered components are frequent sources of quality complaints. Build a return-at-supplier’s-cost clause into your purchase agreement, as we explain in our furniture guide, and arrange inspection before shipment.

Landed Cost Realism for Bulky Cargo

Furniture is volume-heavy and value-light, so freight and handling weigh heavily in landed cost. Compare full container against LCL, check storage charges at the container freight station, and run the numbers through our landed cost formula before you commit. Remember the Certificate of Origin, export declaration and Advance Cargo Declaration requirements that now apply to every shipment.

Timing Delivery With Installation

Commercial fit-outs have installation crews and handover dates. Agree delivery windows that match site readiness, avoid cargo sitting at the port longer than necessary, and make sure someone is ready to receive and inspect on arrival.

Working With Clearon Logistics on Furniture and Fittings

We help commercial importers confirm the current policy position, classify fittings properly, verify wood treatment and conformity documents, and plan delivery around installation dates.

Importing commercial furniture or fittings into Kenya? Talk to Clearon Logistics before you place the order, so we can confirm the current position and your documentation first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it currently illegal to import furniture into Kenya? A directive in October 2025 said furniture imports from China must end, but the precise legal scope was still being clarified. At the moment furniture imports continue but at a higher import duty rate usually 35%. Confirm current guidance before ordering.

Do shop fittings classify the same as furniture? Not necessarily. Shelving, counters, partitions, lighting and signage can each classify differently, so itemise them.

Why does wood treatment matter? Untreated solid wood and non-compliant wooden packaging can cause the shipment to be held, regardless of the quality of the goods.

How do I protect myself against poor-quality furniture? Arrange pre-shipment inspection and include a clause that non-conforming goods are returned at the supplier’s cost.