Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
KENYAN businessmen are still facing many obstacles, which are yet to be eliminated despite the recent signing of the East African Community Common Make protocol.
A survey carried out by this writer at Sirare and Namanga and also at Busia and Malaba borders posts has revealed.
It shows the initial high expectation have been dampened and merchants say free trade is not yet to be on the practical sight, but remained only on papers.
Nearly a year after the take off of the Common Market protocol a number of Kenyan traders, especially those involved in transportation of cargoes across the border says there is no sign of proper coordination of activities between the three countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, which are the founding members of the East African Community.
The traders gave the example of border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania at Sirare and Namanga border posts as the most cumbersome.
For instance, they say, the two countries at the very different levels of making cargo clearance faster, which frustrates the transport companies a lot.
In Kenya, one can now get clearance in less than six hours, while in Tanzania it may take up to 14 days before the truck is allowed to enter into that country unless one makes prior arrangements, “One frustrated trader said.
The agencies involved in quality assurance and certification such as bureau of the standards are also very detached, causing losses for manufacturers and transporters.
“Coming from Tanzania, transporters are allowed to enter Kenya with their first consignment while it is being tested, but if it is to Tanzania, the cargo stays at the border while the samples are tested, which can take even up to six months,” he added.
There is also inconsistency in the maximum weight allowed for trucks. In Kenya for example, the maximum truck weight is 47 tones while in Tanzania it is 50 tones, the three differences is unused capacity wile exporting to Tanzania, but while importing to Kenya one pays heavy fines if it exceeds,” lamented one exporter.
Mr Hajj Noor Burrow a Kenyan exporter was quoted this week by the Nairobi publication the NAIROBISTAR as saying that there are continuous efforts by Tanzanian authorities to frustrate Kenyan business people..
Burrow says, sometimes Kenyans are denied entry into Tanzania on grounds that their travel documents are invalid, despite such document having accepted and cleared by the immigration officials on the Kenya side of the b order as being the valid ones.
Burrow further explains that the frustration is not only in the public offices, but are also visible in private companies.
“Banks in Tanzania are refusing Kenyan traders to open transaction accounts restraining them from doing business there, and ye the Tanzanian citizens can easily open accounts in Kenyan banks,”
He explained, in some instances, “We have to use Tanzanian citizens to open accounts for transactions which carries a high risk as some have run away with our money”
Currently the statistics show that Kenya exports to Tanzania stands at Kshs 30 billion a year and imports from there stands at around Kshs 8 billion annually.
The Ministry of the EAC Affairs, however, says that there are some practical procedures, which the Kenyan traders are not aware of and that si what is leading to frustrations.
Prof Helen Sambili, the Kenyan Minister for the EAC Affairs says implementations is a gradual process, even though traders may expect some issues to be ironed out and resolved overnight.
She said this while official opening the Regional Integration Centers {RICs},adding that “the task of RICs is to facilitate cross border trade and open an automated system for handling customs data and declarations which will shorten clearance times.
On the Kenyan-Uganda border the clearance exercises seemed to have loosened and trucks were quickly accessing their destinations.
Ends