KENYA
 has been accused of dragging its feet in completing a one stop border post at Namanga which has slowed down trade with its Tanzania neighbour. According
to the East African Legislative Assembly, Kenya is lagging behind in
construction of the OSBP, affecting implementation of the EAC treaty on cross
border movement of goods, persons and services.
In
a statement released after a tour of various entry points in the region, the East African Community committee on communication, trade and investments said the delay forms a major non-tariff barrier to trade.
The team was on a tour of OSBP’s in the region, to assess the construction and
implementation of the projects. “Any
delay in the construction of the border facility would impact negatively on the
growth of trade and investments,” committee chairman Mbidde Mukasa (EALA
Uganda) said.
He
said the business community and clearing agents have been inconvenienced by the
delay. “Namanga
Tanzania OSBP was completed a year ago and they were only waiting for the
Kenyan side to complete their facility to allow the sharing of staff,” the team said.
Kenya Revenue Authority Namanga station manager Dishon Njuguna said the project was 80
per cent complete. According
to Njuguna, the project was delayed after the contractor declined to receive
his payments when he was penalised for breach of contract.
“He
was supposed to have completed the construction of the facility by December
2013, but the contract terms were reviewed to June 2015, attracting the
penalties,” Njuguna said. He
said a slow land compensation process also contributed to the delay.
The
committee toured other projects at Kenya-Tanzania entry points in Lunga
Lunga/Horo Horo and Holili/Taveta. The two are complete but lack water, the
committee noted. The
EAC is keen to have 15 OSBPs along their common entry points,
targeting to reduce transit time by between 30-40 per cent.
The
posts under construction are in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi
borders. The
four countries are also implementing a Single Customs Territory to speed up
cargo clearance and enhance revenue collection at first points of entry.
Source: The Star

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