Governor pushes for Namanga border point completion

A man displays his artifacts in maasai market at Sarit Centre.A market that will help local maasai women to sell their ornaments to tourists and locals has was opened in Kitengela on Saturday. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROU

By PONCIANO ODONGO

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The Kajiado governor has asked the national government to hasten construction of Namanga border post to open up the area to regional trade.

David Nkedianye says demolition of business structures along Namanga Road to pave way for the one-stop border point has slowed down economic growth in the county as most residents rely on trade.

“The one-stop border post project has badly affected the locals and has taken longer than anticipated. We call on the ministry to hasten the pace of the project because many people are suffering economically,” he said in Namanga where he donated two tents and 300 plastic chairs to Enyuata Namanga Women group.

The Namanga one-stop border point will boost trade between Kenya and Tanzania and the Tanzania side is set to start operations soon.

The Tanzania Road agency announced that the Japanese International Corporation-funded project was set for completion by last month and the contractor is to hand it over to the government early this year.

“In Kenya, the contractors stopped working in early December, leaving the roads and parts of the area in a bad condition,” said Joshua Toshi, a member of county assembly.

Dr Nkedianye said although the project would benefit the county and the East African Community (EAC), it has affected businesses and many people have suffered after being relocated and others are yet to settle.

He said the government should compensate the traders whose structures were demolished and land owners. Tanzania has already compensated its residents.

Last month, the bad state of the Namanga Road caused traffic jams for three days, delaying flow of goods and services across the border.

Five houses were also washed away as the seasonal river whose natural course was diverted due to the ongoing road construction wreaked havoc.

“We are waiting to see if the contractor will compensate those affected by the floods due to the course of the river that was changed,” said Emoi Ali Hassan, a Namanga resident.

Last year, the residents and businessmen in Kajiado said the EAC and the Kenyan government were trying to renege on a deal to compensate them for demolition of business structures, residential houses, institutions and churches.

Five posts are to be built at border crossings between EAC countries as part of region’s plan to grow trade among member states by fast-tracking clearance of goods and human traffic.

Through the one-stop border posts, all immigration activities, custom clearances would be carried out under one roof at a single desk.