By Talk Africa Reporter
Busia County, Kenya: The lack of enough infrastructure at Malaba’s One-stop Border Post (OSBP) has been cited as one of the major reasons for the endless traffic snarl-ups along the Malaba-Bungoma road.
The loop road at the border that is used by the trucks leaving for Uganda stalled more than five years ago forcing both incoming and outgoing trucks to use the same lane causing traffic jams on both sides along the border.
According to the Kenya Revenue Authority in Western region coordinator Mrs. Pamela Hago, the One-Stop Border Post at Malaba has great potential of clearing as many trucks as possible in a single day. But because of the narrowness of the road, they are only able to clear between 2,000-2,300 trucks a day due to delay on traffic jam.
During her tour at the post, Mrs. Hago noted that many trucks use the border and for the effective collection of revenue, there is a need for the government through the Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) to improve infrastructures at the border.
“Lack of enough infrastructures is also a challenge we are facing here. The loop road that goes to Uganda is incomplete. The trucks are forced to use one route for both incoming and outgoing traffic, and that is what has been causing the traffic snarl-up. Though our staff works very hard to manage the situation,” she stated
According to Hago the current Malaba OSBP handles more cargo trucks than Busia OSBP by clearing more than 2,300 trucks a day but with improved infrastructures. The border is capable to surpass that number, which will not only improve service delivery but also increase revenue collection from the current Ksh4.5billion the border collects a year to higher revenue as a result of smooth traffic.
“We have the potential of handling more trucks but once this level of infrastructure has been improved definitely we know by working together with our Ugandan counterparts we will be able to handle more trucks” She explains.
Adding “It has been increasing with time. Initially, this border was handling about 1,300 trucks per day and it has increased to 2,300 per day,” says Hago.
However, she noted that plans are underway to expand the OSBP, adding that the government agencies along the border are working hand in hand to make sure the expansion is achieved in the shortest time possible for effective delivery of services at the border.
“There is a need to expand this OSBP. We have a government multi-agency team that has been put into place and the team is looking into the expansion and currently, they are working on the designs and also looking for the resources to expand this facility,” said Mrs. Hago.
