Check that an excise stamp is genuine
Kenya Revenue Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Look for the KRA excise stamp on alcohol, cigarettes, soft drinks or juice, then scan it with the Soma label app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. A missing stamp is a warning sign.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- On your phone, with the Soma label app
Steps
- Check that the product has a KRA excise stamp. Excisable goods made in or imported into Kenya must carry one (cars are the exception).
- Download the Soma label app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and use it to check the stamp.
- If the stamp is missing or doesn't check out, don't buy, and report it to KRA through its whistle-blowing channels.
Watch out
- Bottled water no longer needs an excise stamp: it stopped being an excisable product on 1 July 2026.
- You may still see stamps on bottled water made or imported before 1 July 2026. That stock can still be sold.
- Selling excisable goods without stamps is one of the tax evasion schemes KRA targets.
Who can apply
- Anyone. Members of the public can check stamps themselves.
Official sources (3)
- KRA rolls out new generation of excise stamps to fight counterfeits kra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Excise Duty (Taxation for Companies & Partnerships) kra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Taxpayer Guidelines On Procedure for Returning Unused V4 Excise Stamps for Bottled Water kra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026