Tanzania protests Kenya's move to block gas imports

Cooking gas cylinders. Kenya banned the importation of cooking gas through the Kenya-Tanzania border. FILE PHOTO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Tanzania says Kenya’s stance undermines East African Community trade rules as well as an agreement reached between the two governments in trying to resolve the stalemate.

By HELLEN GITHAIGA
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Dar es Salaam has protested Nairobi’s refusal to lift a ban on cooking gas imports through the Kenya-
Tanzania border.

Tanzania said it learnt about the restriction through the Kenyan media and contacted Nairobi to explain why it took such a decision.

The Permanent Secretary at the Industry and Trade ministry, Prof Adolf Mkenda, said Kenya’s stance undermines East African Community trade rules as well as an agreement reached between the two governments to resolve the stalemate.

Prof Mkenda said the issue was discussed at length during the East African Community Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment meeting in Arusha on June 2.

“During the meeting, Kenya agreed to lift the ban on cooking gas imports from Tanzania with immediate effect,” he said in a statement released Wednesday.

However, Kenya continues to bar cooking gas imports that do not enter the country through the Port of Mombasa, he added.

He said the move is affecting businesspersons in Tanzania who have been trading with Kenyans.

“The development comes at a time when Kenya has also refused to lift import duty on Tanzania’s wheat flour despite advice from the EAC Secretariat to allow the commodity to access its market duty-free,” he said.

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Kenya implemented the ban in late April.

Prof Mkenda said Tanzania has issued a formal complaint to Kenya.

He added that Dar is lining up measures to resolve the stalemate, but did not disclose more details.