Some residents closed the Kenya-Tanzania road to Tanzanian traffic, thus bringing to a standstill trade between the two sister-members of the East African Community.

The reason given by neighbours on the Kenyan side for this regrettable situation is the alleged abduction of a Kenyan businessman, ‘Moha,’ claimed to have been done by Tanzanians only because the victim was driven away from his business place in a vehicle bearing Tanzanian registration number plates.

Tanzanian authorities this side of the border-crossing say they are pursuing the matter with a view to resolving the burgeoning impasse. We are hoping that their Kenyan counterparts are also working to calm the tempers among the residents.

Surely, authorities from either side of the border should not allow residents to take the law unto their own hands. Regrettably, this is becoming a habit at the border. In January, travellers were stuck for hours on the Namanga-Nairobi highway after residents blocked the busy road demanding compensation for a local who was allegedly hit and killed by bus the residents claimed had Tanzanian registration numbers.

Such chaotic, violent scenes normally take hours to resolve. This is costly to business. A lasting solution is now needed to ease tension pitting residents from either side of this border.

Source: The Citizen