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One-stop border posts praised for making EAC a leading trading bloc in Africa
East African Legislative Assembly member and Kenya chapter secretary Judith Pareno speaks during a sensitisation forum in Isiolo Town on January 10, 2017. She said the introduction of one-stop border posts has helped improve trade among East African Community member countries. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Pareno lauded the regional assembly for removing trade barriers at border points.
- Nine Kenyan members of EALA visited a post in Moyale, Marsabit County on the Kenya-Ethiopia border on Monday.
- Although Ethiopia is not a member of the EAC, it enjoys trade owing to its border with Kenya.
- The EALA members regretted that most Kenyans do not seem to know of the regional assembly.
The introduction of one-stop border posts has been hailed for improving trade among East African Community (EAC) member countries.
The border posts have also made EAC a major economic bloc in Africa, according East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member and Kenya chapter secretary Judith Pareno.
Ms Pareno made the remarks during an EALA sensitisation forum in Isiolo on Tuesday.
She lauded the assembly for removing trade barriers at border points, saying the changes had resulted in faster and more efficient movement of people and goods.
Nine Kenyan members of the EALA visited a post in Moyale, Marsabit County, on the Kenya-Ethiopia border on Monday while on their sensitisation mission on the importance of the assembly.
“Instead of stamping goods and paying taxes [at] every border point in EAC countries, we have ensured they are inspected at one border point,” said Ms Pareno.
Although Ethiopia is not a member of the EAC, it enjoys the benefits of trade owing to its border with Kenya.
The EALA members regretted that in the 27 counties they had visited, many Kenyans they met did not seem to know much about the regional assembly.
BORDER POSTS
Border posts within the EAC include Namanga, Taveta/Holili, Lunga Lunga/Hororo, Moyale on the Ethiopia-Kenya border, and Isebania/Sirari on the border of Kenya and Tanzania.
Others are Busia and Malaba on the Kenya-Uganda boundary; Kanyaru/Akanyaru and Nemba on the border between Burundi and Rwanda; and Mutukula on the Tanzania-Uganda border.
On implementation of laws by member states passed by the assembly, Ms Pareno noted that the regulations are being respected by all countries as stipulated in the treaty and urged legislators in the region to ensure they align their laws with those passed by the EALA.
The members expressed optimism that Tanzania will soon catch up with the rest of the countries on the use of national identification cards to cross their border.
Ms Pareno noted that only Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya have allowed the use of the document for people entering the countries.
“We have received several complaints of locals being denied entry into Tanzania even after presenting their IDs. But we know that they will implement it soon,” she said.
