Uhuru, Magufuli expected to tackle border issues at meeting

As the Nyanza region readies for the visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzania counterpart John Pombe Magufuli, local leaders and residents of Migori County, which will host the two heads of state, are optimistic that the duo will address the pertinent cross-border issues at the common border.

Some of these issues have in the past caused diplomatic jitters between the two countries.

The two presidents will be joined by opposition leader Raila Odinga during the tour set for Friday.

COMMON MARKET

The trio will meet at the Nyatike common border point to address some of the issues affecting local residents on either side before addressing a public rally in Migori.

The meeting comes in the wake of recent trade tiffs between the two countries. At the Isibania/Sirare border, Kenyan traders have been complaining of harassment from Tanzanian customs and immigration officials.

Despite the existence of the East Africa Community (EAC) common market protocol that was meant to enhance free movement of goods and people between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, Kenyan traders have decried harsh treatment in Tanzania, something that has hindered trade between the two countries.

Kenyan traders say they are routinely frustrated by Tanzanian customs officials, who still impose stringent rules and exit formalities that bar Kenyans from crossing over to Tanzania to do business.

Tanzania remains the only EAC member where Kenyans require a passport and visa to enter, even when travelling by road. Kenyans are also required to test for yellow fever before getting permission to enter Tanzania.

ARBITRARY ARRESTS

“It is unfortunate that Kenyans are still finding it hard to cross over to Tanzania for business despite the fact that the East African Community common market protocol is in place,” said Mr Samuel Rumo, the chairman of the Kenya-Tanzania Cross Border Traders’ Association.

Mr Rumo adds: “Compliance with the common market protocol is very poor, especially on the part of the Tanzanian government, whose authorities at the border have been making arbitrary arrests of Kenyans found on their land.”

Kenyans living and doing business in Tanzania have also complained of incessant harassment from Tanzania police and immigration officials, who, they claim, have been arresting them on trumped-up charges and deporting them to Kenya. The traders say this has been the trend since President Magufuli came to office.

In January 2016, Tanzania launched an exercise called Timua Wageni to crack down on foreign nationals living in the country illegally.

BURNED CHICKENS

Immigration officials launched door-to-door raids that saw many Kenyans deported and many more lose their jobs and businesses.

This move was largely seen as a ploy to free up jobs and business opportunities for Tanzanians.

Last October, the cold relations between the two states deepened when Tanzanian officials seized and auctioned off 1,300 cattle belonging to Maasai herders. The cattle had strayed across the border in Kajiado to Tanzania.

In the wake of this incident, President Magufuli was unapologetic and maintained that Tanzania is not meant for grazing cattle from foreign lands.

In November the same year, Tanzania seized and burned 6,500 chicks that had been taken to the country by a Kenyan trader.

PROTEST NOTE

The chicks were burnt on grounds that they would spread a poultry disease in the country.

Bowing to public furore triggered by these actions from Tanzania officials, then Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ms Amina Mohammed said the country had sent a ‘note of protest’ to Tanzania.

At the Isibania/Sirare border, the Kenyan traders say that nothing has changed. They maintain that the introduction of One Stop Border Post, which was meant to bring all custom services from the two countries under one roof for improved efficiencies, has not improved their plight either.

“Business here has taken a turn for the worst. Tanzanian officials ask for so much at the border in order to clear us. The delays always limit our businesses. Besides, most of the officials demand hefty bribes to hasten clearance of our goods. We are treated to this yet Tanzanian traders freely enter and exit our country,” said Chacha Mwita, a truck driver at the Isibania.

DO BUSINESS

Mr Mwita is however hopeful that the presidents of the two states will thrash out some of these issues when they meet in Migori.

“I will be waiting to hear whether our plight will be addressed when the leaders from the two countries meet. Let them resolve this enmity,” added Mr Chacha.

Local leaders are also expressing optimism that the border conflicts will be discussed during the visit.

Kuria East MP Marwa Maisori said: “It is good the two leaders are meeting in Migori. The meeting will go a long way in solving some of the border issues that have been affecting the two countries. More importantly, we hope president Magufuli will be prevailed upon by our president to allow Kenyans freely do business in Tanzania.”

ILLEGAL DRUGS

On his part, Nyatike MP Tom Odege applauded the two leaders for coming to Migori and hoped that their meeting in Nyatike will help solve the conflicts over Lake Victoria.

Security officials in Migori also hope that bhang smuggling into the country from Tanzania will be addressed.

The officials have blamed the influx of the illegal drugs in the country on the fact that the drug barons get it freely from Tanzania.

“Had Tanzania government put stringent measures to curb growing of bhang in the country, it would have helped us end this bhang menace,” said a security official in Migori County who wished not to be named.