Strict airport rules keep off traders

• Two airlines halt flights to Eldoret due to reduced cargo business

Stringent importation rules have forced many businessmen to stop using Eldoret International Airport in the last one year.

Consequently, two airlines have withdrawn their cargo services to the country’s third largest international airport. Cargolux withdrew its services in 2007 while Qatar Air Cargo followed suit a year later.

Only Emirates Sky Cargo and Egypt Air still fly to the airport on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday.

The airport, which handled 810,022 kg of cargo last June, only managed 233,196 kg last month.

The airport manager, Mr Peter Wafula, is, however, upbeat about the cargo operations at Eldoret, saying that while the number of airlines may have reduced, those remaining had increased capacity.

The commissioner for investigations and enforcement at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Mr Joseph Nduati, told the Sunday Nation that the government was insisting that importers give their identity, nature of cargo and its value before being allowed into the country.

“We want them (importers using Eldoret airport) to operate as it happens in other ports,” Mr Nduati said.

He noted that the stringent rules were introduced at the airport after the government realised it was losing millions of shillings while at the same time posing a security risk to the country.

“There are instances when importers had gone missing after drugs or prohibited goods had been impounded,” Mr Nduati said.

Last July KRA was reported to be losing an estimated Sh100 million every week through tax evasion in a syndicate that involved customs officials, importers and businessmen.

The loss involved a long web that had local and international links in the goods that were mainly collected from Eastleigh after being imported through Eldoret International Airport.

Other goods were smuggled through Wajir Airport that was upgraded to international standards by the government.

The syndicate had its tentacles in the Far East countries including China, Turkey, India and Dubai among others where most of their goods are sourced.

The goods smuggled into the country without attracting any duty included electronics, clothing as well as furniture.

Unlike other ports where importers are charged according to the value of goods imported, at Eldoret airport, traders were charged in accordance with the weight of their cargo. The charges ranged from Sh280 to Sh350 per kilo.