Traffic set to ease at border

Congestion of trucks at a Kenya/Uganda border post will soon be a thing of the past, according to Finance assistant minister.

The Government would soon build an office at the Malaba border point to house Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to clear vehicles, Dr Oburu Oginga said on Wednesday.

“The one-stop centre where KRA and URA officials will be working together to clear transit trucks will reduce congestion here and save on time,” said the assistant minister.

He said such cooperation was being done by officials of Rift Valley Railways at a border point to make clearance faster.

He said after touring Malaba KRA and URA offices that the piling up of trucks would end once the office was operational.

“KRA offices should be well-equipped because it is an international border, serving both as an entry and exit point to the Great Lakes region,” said Dr Oginga.

He was accompanied by the commissioner of motor vehicles, Mr Simeon ole Kirgotty, and Western region KRA commissioner Ebby Khakuli. 

The assistant minister explained that Vision 2030 was meant to allow free movement of people and goods from Kenya to other countries.

Dr Oginga called on security officers at the border to stop harassing residents of the two countries as one way of enhancing East Africa cooperation

Elsewhere, the US government has welcomed the introduction of a 24-hour work schedule at the port of Mombasa and other border points in the country.

Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, however, said his country’s main concern was security at the exit and entry points.

“I know there are challenges that come with the operations but I think this is the right direction,” he said, noting that the US government had provided substantial training to security personnel in the country and would continue doing so.

“The United States military has partnered with the Kenyan military to improve maritime security, as the ports of Coast Province are import corridors for the entire East African region,” said Mr Ranneberger in a press statement.

He urged the private sector to cooperate with the Government to reap the benefits of the round-the-clock operations.

Increase trade

“We also expect the coalition Government to yield results to the people of Kenya,” he said and called for concerted efforts to increase trade between Kenya and America. He, however, regretted that red tape and corruption impeded trade between the two countries.

Kenya Ports Authority acting managing director James Mulewa said challenges facing the port included the slow take off of the Kilindini Waterfront Automated Terminal Operating System.