President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe Magufuli officially launched the Namanga one stop border.
The two Presidents rode in the same vehicle to the venue and shunned the recent tension between the two countries.
President Kenyatta told the immigration officers from both countries to avoid corruption as it as it undermines the freedom and movement of goods and services.
“Trade between the two countries is curtailed by people employed to man our border posts. Instead of these people assisting citizens to trade freely, they engage in corruption. This must stop,” Uhuru said.
He warned that the traders should however take advantage of the opportunity to take part in illegal trade and businesses. He emphasized on the need to protect small traders as they were the backbone of Kenya’s economy.
President Magufuli on his part said that the one stop border would improve trade ties between Kenya and Tanzania. He said that the one stop border would reduce the cost of travel and improve tourism between the two countries.
“It is expected that the One Stop Border Post will facilitate trade and boost trade. Traders will be able to transport their goods 10 times per month while in the past it was hard to do so even four times a month,” Magufuli said.
Magufuli said that Tanzania had already benefited from the facility stating that revenue collected had rapidly increased over the last year.
Both Presidents insisted on unity in trade stating that it would make East Africa to compete with other economic blocs.
