Nairobi to Mumbai: India's 2024-26 Tax Changes for Kenyan Indians

The Indian community in Kenya is multi-generational, concentrated in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. Many families have had Indian investments and property for 2-3 generations. The India-Kenya DTAA (revised in 2016) caps interest at 10% and dividends at 10%. Unchanged in 2024-26.

KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority) issues tax residency certificates through the iTax portal. Process is digital and takes about 2-4 weeks.

**Section 148** reopening cut to 3/5 years. September 2024.

**Faceless mandate** — JAO 148 notices are void per Supreme Court (July 2025).

**Budget 2024** 12.5% flat LTCG, no indexation, on NRI property from 23 July 2024.

**Black Money Act safe harbour** ₹20L for movable foreign assets, September 2025.

For Kenyan-Indian families with long-held Indian property, Budget 2024's indexation removal is the biggest shift. Run the old-vs-new math before selling.

Kenya Revenue Authority issues TRCs through iTax in about 2-4 weeks. You'll need your PIN (Personal Identification Number) and an active tax file. Once the TRC lands, your Indian CA uses it to file Form 10F and claim the treaty rates on your ITR.

For multi-generational Kenyan-Indian families holding Indian property from the 1970s or 1980s, Budget 2024's removal of indexation is the biggest 2024-26 change. A property bought in 1985 for ₹2 lakh and sold in 2026 for ₹2 crore now pays 12.5% on ₹1.98 crore flat — roughly ₹25 lakh. Under the old 20%-with-indexation rule the same sale would have paid closer to ₹8-10 lakh. Run the math before you list.