The number of trains ferrying cargo using the standard gauge railway (SGR) from Mombasa-Nairobi have dropped to seven after rising eight last week. The Kenya Port Authority (KPA) which is overseeing the transportation reported that the number of trains had shot to eight in the better part of last week but reduced following a “number of issues.” Reliable sources informed Shipping that wrangles between the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and officers in the container operations department resulted to the reduction of the freight trains back to seven daily. KPA's head of container operations Edward Opiyo however denied reports that the disputes were behind the unfolding events. “We only had some small issues with the new KRA officials but those are not in any way linked to the transport of cargo,” Mr Opiyo said. He noted that the number of freight trains reduced as there were no enough wagons available for transportation. “The wagons that come from Nairobi are the same ones that we are dealing with but our aim is to meet the target which is seven trains a day and that is the ministry’s target. On a good day we can do up to 10 but it depends on the availability of those wagons,” said Mr Opiyo. He said since KPA has been able to meet the target, “what I can tell you is that the operations are going on well.” Currently, a total of 8,000 containers are moved through SGR freight trains every day to the Inland Container...

As the UK prepares for life after Brexit, prime minister Theresa May is leading a charm offensive to Africa this week. With a delegation that includes the UK trade minister and minister for Africa, the British leader will visit three of Africa’s largest economies, South Africa (Aug. 28), Nigeria (Aug. 29), and Kenya (Aug. 30). May will be the first UK prime minister to visit Kenya in more than three decades and the first to visit Sub-Saharan Africa since 2013. The visit, described as ”a unique opportunity at a unique time,” has a very clear purpose: “As we prepare to leave the European Union, now is the time for the UK to deepen and strengthen its global partnerships,” May said. As it is already late to the party in Africa, following increased efforts from China and the United States in recent years, the UK is making the pitch for a “renewed partnership” with “mutual benefits.” It says it will work “side by side” with partners on the continent to “maximize shared opportunities.” Those sentiments appear to be particularly veiled references to contrast China’s activity on the continent which has been branded as “debt trap diplomacy” and criticized for encouraging dependency. In Kenya, for example, debt to China has grown tenfold in five years. May will need to make a strong impression on Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, who is also meeting leaders from China and the US this week. In addition to trade talks, May will be pledging more military support as Kenya continues to battle the insurgent...

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May walks out of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, May 2, 2018. /REUTERS Britain will use its international aid budget to boost its own interests while also seeking to deepen trade ties with Africa, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday, countering critics who say aid funds would be better spent at home. May, battling to unite her divided Conservative Party over her plan to take Britain out of the European Union, is visiting South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya on her first official trip to the continent. In a speech in Cape Town, May said she wanted Britain to become the biggest investor in Africa out of the Group of Seven nations, overtaking the United States, by using the aid budget to help British companies invest on the continent. The government has held out the prospect of increased trade with non-European Union countries as one of the major selling points of Brexit as it prepares to leave the bloc, currently its biggest trading partner, in March next year. In April, Britain hosted a meeting of Commonwealth countries, including South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, seeking to reinvigorate the network of mostly former colonies and drum up new trade amongst its members. May recommitted to maintaining the overall British aid budget at 0.7 percent of economic output but said she would use it in a way that helped Britain. “I am unashamed about the need to ensure that our aid programme works for the UK,” May said....

Over 2,500 trade professionals from around the world are expected to converge in Kenya next month for a regional transport and logistics trade exhibition. The trade fair, Scalex East Africa 2018, is scheduled for September 3-5 at the Oshwal Center in the capital Nairobi. The trade event is expected to boost Kenya’s credentials as the leading transport and logistics hub in East and Central Africa. The event is also signficant considering the heavy investment in infrastructure by countries in the region in recent years. Scalex East Africa spokesperson Skander Negasi said the trade fair will offer firms and investors a unique opportunity to learn more about infrastructure in the region. “Scalex East Africa offers a powerful and knowledge networking base for industry players eyeing the East African market especially regarding processes and solutions for the logistics industry,” said Mr. Negasi. He added that local and international exhibitors will showcase innovations and link up with potential clients. The event also offers participating firms a platform to project their brands in the regional market. It will also incorporate a conference where participants will discuss trends in African logistics, rail and port infrastructure development, logistics standards, and technology and innovation in transportation among other topical issues. By some estimates, East Africa requires an estimated $100 billion until 2021 to plug the infrastructure gap. Investments in roads, railways, airports and sea ports are seen as vital to trade and economic growth. Scalex East Africa trade fair is organised by planetfair GmbH & Co., an...

Trade among East African Community member states has grown by $4b (Shs15.014 trillion) since the establishment of Customs Union on January 2, 2005. The growth signifies the importance of regional integration to member states which mainly pursues trade and market integration. Mr Kenneth Bagamuhunda, the EAC customs general, said during the 22nd Ordinary Meeting of the East African Community Monetary Affairs Committee (MAC) that while integration will take long to be fully realised, there are already positives results. “Since January 2005, EAC trade integration has resulted into increased volume of trade. In 2005, trade between the EAC states was $1.5b but has since increased to $5.5b in 2017,” he said. According to Mr Bagamuhunda, infrastructure development in the region has developed, which has helped to grow trade in the region. “We have put emphasis on infrastructure development for economic growth [with] customs as one of the avenues for growth,” he said. The East African Customs Union was followed by the East African Community Common Market, which represents the second pillar of the EAC regional integration process. The EAC regional integration provides for freedom of movement for all the factors of production such as goods and labour, among others. Mr Bagamuhunda said the implementation of the Common Market has progressed well with the secretariat implementing a number of procedures such as the e-passport and one-stop border points, among others. The East African Legislative Assembly has also passed the Bill establishing the East African Monetary Institute. LARGEST TRADE PARTNER Since the establishment...

50 kilograms or 110 pounds. That is the maximum Nathalie can smuggle in one night. She knows a shortcut to avoid the border control. Her heavy bags are packed with used trousers, dresses and shirts from Europe and North America. "If you get caught, you can go to jail. If you are lucky, you can bribe the police," she said. One trip takes her two days. Eight hours by van from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to the place near the border where her parents live. Another hour by boat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There she spends the day at the market. "I look for all kinds of clothes. Back home, the people buy everything because second-­hand clothes are hard to get." High tariffs for textiles in Rwanda, pressure from the US Nathalie's 50 kilograms of used clothes are just a minor contraband compared to other smugglers. Rwandan authorities have impounded 230 tons of illegally imported clothes from July to December 2017. This is a consequence of the rise of tariffs for textiles from $0.20 (€0,17) to $2.50 (€2,09) per kilogram by the Rwandan government. The high tariffs are part of the strategy to strengthen the domestic textile sector. Currently, local production cannot compete with the quality and price of used clothes from the West. In 2015, the states of the East African Community (EAC) decided to ban the import on second-­hand clothing from 2019 onwards. Today, Rwanda is the only state that sticks to this plan. It is the US that...

President Uhuru Kenyatta wrapped up his official visit to the US with a message that Africa is open to mutually beneficial trade and investments with the world. Speaking to the media after his meeting with President Donald Trump, the President observed that Africa has come of age and does not look to the world for aid but how to foster win-win partnerships that benefit all parties involved. “There has been dramatic change across the African continent where people are beginning to get a better understanding of themselves, who they are and where they want to be,” he said. The Head of State added: “And we are looking at how we can partner with countries across the globe in a partnerships that are not patronising but those that are anchored on a win-win positions.” The President spoke shortly before he departed Washington DC on Monday evening after a busy day that saw him hold bilateral talks with President Donald Trump. He also met business executives of leading US companies during which he witnessed investment deals worth USD 238 million (Sh24 billion) signed between Kenyan and US companies. Uhuru termed his meeting with President Trump a big success, saying it cemented a relationship that was already strong between Kenya and the US. “The meeting with President Trump was fruitful. We discussed security, especially the fight against terrorism. We also discussed how to increase trade and investments between our two countries and how US companies can help create jobs for our youth,” he...

Central Bank Governors of the East African Community (EAC) have noted that there have been delays in realising targets set out in the East African Monetary Union (EAMU) road map and that there are several challenges that could further impede the full implementation of EAMU protocol. The Governors, who met in Kampala at the 22nd ordinary meeting of the EAC Monetary Affairs Committee (MAC) chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, Governor Bank of Uganda, pledged to collaborate with stakeholders in the EAC integration process to fast-track pending activities of the EAMU road map. The meeting was attended by Central Bank Governors of the 6 EAC member states (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Uganda) and the Secretary General of the EAC Secretariat. The Governors noted that significant progress has already been made towards the operationalization of the EAMU Protocol. “Partner States’ Central Banks have made strides on harmonization of: monetary policy frameworks, exchange rate policies, rules and practices governing bank supervision, financial accounting principles, as well as payment systems. “A number of national laws are also being harmonised. In April 2018, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) enacted the bill establishing the East African Monetary Institute (EAMI). The EAMI bill now awaits assent by the EAC Heads of State,” noted a Communiqué that was issued after the meeting. It said that “Notwithstanding the above, Governors noted that there have been delays in realising targets set out in the EAMU road map and that there are several challenges that could further...

The United States and Kenya agreed Monday to build a superhighway from Nairobi to Mombasa, the White House said. After President Donald Trump welcomed his counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Oval Office, the pair voiced support for closer economic cooperation “aimed at making their nations stronger and their citizens more prosperous,” the White House said in a statement. The project, known as the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway project would link Kenya’s capital with second city Mombasa, a major Indian Ocean port. It is due to be built by US construction firm Bechtel Corporation. “Both sides agreed to undertake further consultations to conclude the terms of the financing agreement,” the White House said. The two leaders also announced that their governments had established direct flights between Nairobi and New York. “This and nearly $900 million in other commercial deals and engagements announced during the visit are expected to create thousands of American and Kenyan jobs, further enhancing the prosperity and economic competitiveness of both nations,” the statement added Source Capital Fm

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to Kenya on Thursday – the first time a UK leader has visited in 30 years – could not come at a more difficult time for the leader of the Conservative Party. For as with her predecessor David Cameron, whose visit to Nairobi in 2016 was cancelled at the last moment, she is beset with divisions in her own party as well as within the country over the decision to leave the European Union. Officially the delegation of UK ministers, business people and officials are arriving, as a statement from No 10 Downing Street said to “focus on a renewed partnership between the UK and Africa, which will seek to maximise shared opportunities and tackle common challenges.” Unofficially of course it is another attempt to reassure the British public that the UK is capable of ‘going it alone’ after Brexit and forging new trade deals with Commonwealth partners and other major economic powers like China and the United States. Mrs May needs to show that Britain is still a relevant world power that can still cut bespoke trade deals with other countries. The Prime Minister (above) will be joined by a business delegation made up of 29 representatives from UK business from across all regions of the UK and its devolved administrations for the three-day visit which starts in South Africa today. Also travelling are Trade Minister George Hollingbery and Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin. In Nairobi she will meet President Uhuru Kenyatta and...