Kenya told to remove roadblocks

Police erect a roadblock on the road leading to the Jumuia Conference Centre Limuru, the venue of the Limuru 2B meeting called to counter recent Gema and Kamtusa gatherings April 18,2012. Prime Minister Raila Odinga ordered the Internal Security minister to take "immediate action" against Kenya's police boss after his officers blocked the meeting. WILLIAM OERI  

By Nation Correspondent
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The World Bank has urged Kenya to remove all roadblocks along transport corridors to boost regional trade

According to the Kenya Economic Update (KEU) report for December, the removal of all roadblocks along the routes of cargo destined to countries in the region will greatly reduce trade bottlenecks that have made the cost of doing business in the East African Community high.

This is among the structural reforms the Kenya Economic Update recommends to “improve the ease of doing business environment and boost growth in the near term”.

“Reductions in delays in the clearance of cargo at the Port of Mombasa and recent measures to address the challenges of transporting cargo along the northern corridor are steps in the right direction to promoting regional trade,” says the KEU.

The East African Business Council says the roadblocks are “very expensive in terms of time lost and monetary cost incurred”. The roadblocks are also said to be “too many”.

The EABC said although roadblocks improve security along transport corridors, the cumbersome clearance at these facilities is “grossly time-wasting”.

Last year, at least 36 roadblocks were reported between the port of Mombasa and Kigali in Rwanda, with about 30 others reported between Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port and Rwanda’s Rusumo border.

Uganda was reported to have about nine roadblocks between the boarded town of Malaba and the Katuna border point with Rwanda.