Kenyan athletes, coaches and team managers must pay taxes for any sports equipment imported from overseas without prior notification.
AK director of youth development Barnabas Korir insists the parties must declare every sports item they plan to bring into the country and the intended beneficiaries.
This is to avoid confrontations and inconveniences with customs officers at the Airports when they land from overseas.
AK says that once confirmed, they will relay information on the goods on transit and their intended purpose to the Kenya Revenue Authorities (KRA) for clearance.
This order comes after AK intervened to have marathoner Joyciline Chepkosgei’s bags carrying 40 pairs of running shoes cleared from customs at JKIA on Tuesday.
Jepkosgei’s coach, Peter Bii, who was in procession of the bags, was intercepted on arrival from Chicago, USA, on Tuesday, days after
Jepkosgei had finished fifth in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday as compatriot Ruth Chepng'etich became the first woman in history to run a sub-2:10 marathon, clocking a world record of 2:09:57.
The marathoner says she didn’t know the protocol, but the shoes were meant for distribution at her running camp in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet.
“We arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the Chicago marathon and needed help. KRA officers have taken two bags of training shoes charging every shoe Sh19,000; kindly help,” Jepkosgei said.
Korir warned against malicious moves for personal gains by the athletes who travel frequently.
“Rules must be followed, and athletes must adhere to them, or we risk attracting the wrath of KRA, which has been kind to us. We will not write to KRA for an exemption if we suspect anyone in the athletic fraternity is trying to conduct business," Korir said.
"We will ensure all items entering the country must have the name of the athlete it will benefit."
Other athletes have previously been caught in similar situations, with KRA confirming that athletes are not exempt from paying taxes in accordance with the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.
Personal items valued under $2,000 (Sh260,000) are exempted from customs duty. However, any excess, including gifts and donations, is subject to duty.
Corporal Joyciline Jepkosgei was promoted to Sergeant as a reward for winning the silver medal at the 2022 London Marathon after clocking 2.18.07 behind Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw who was first at 2:17.26.
The first glimpse of Jepkosgei's talent came in March last year when she set a half-marathon PB of 1:09:09.
The race was held at altitude in Nairobi, and she finished just four seconds behind 2013 Amsterdam Marathon champion Valentine Jepkorir.