ABSTRACT
System automation is usually applied to improve customs performance. System automation plays a significant role in simplifying and harmonizing borders and administrative procedures. It leads to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in the customs system. The poor customs performance at the port of Mombasa can be attributed to lengthy procedures of customs clearance, rapid growth of container trade, frequent KRA and KPAIT system breakdown, a gateout process that is slow and slow container off-take, inadequate capacity of yards and involvement of multiple sectors in the clearance process. The study established the effects of system automation on customs performance at the port ofMombasa Kenya. The study particularly examined the effect of automation of customs release process and automation of payment system on customs performance. This study focused on the unified theory of technical acceptance and use of technology and rational expectations theory of technology adoption. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study’s target population constituted customs officers, KPA officers, shipping agents, and cargo owners who are 124 in total. The study adopted the use of self-administered structured questionnaires to collect data. The researcher utilized descriptive statistics for data analysis which included measures of central tendency namely, frequencies, percentages and means and measures of dispersion namely, variances and standard deviations. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS Version22).Analysis was done, using frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation and the information generated was presented in form of tables and figures.