Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has critised the National government for shortchanging Busia County over the One Stop Border Post.
While addressing clearing agents and transporters in his office, Ojaamong said his government has factored in the 2018/2019 budget Sh30 million for the construction of a trailer park at Mundika.
He said the procurement process has started with construction works expected in the next three months.
“The issue of the parking yard in Busia and Malaba could be a thing of the past but we were shortchanged by the National Government after we offered land for the construction of the One Stop Border Posts; We have decided to use our own resources instead,” he said.
He said the One STOP Border Post should have included a parking yard for trucks.
In February 2018, Kenya and Uganda launched the Busia one stop border post to ease trade.
Currently, traders do not undergo the same scrutiny on both sides as it was in the past.
The border post combines the traditional two stops for border processing into one.
It is meant to improve efficiency in immigration clearance and ease the movement of goods and people.
Ojaamong said his Government will establish a traffic marshal unit to assist in controlling traffic along the highway; this followed a request by the transporters for the Governor to establish the unit to “give them a human face.”
The agents and transporters assured Ojaamong that they will continue paying revenue to the county treasury contrary to earlier threats.
Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) member-cum transporter Raymond Masiga said, as county residents, they are mandated to pay tax to the County Government.
“We have decided to abandon our earlier threats to boycott paying tax until some of our demands are met. We shall suffer as a county if we don’t honor our obligations,” he said.
The Governor promised to address various issues the agents and transporters are seeking his intervention to ensure seamless flow of goods and services between Kenya and Uganda.
KIFWA chairman Joseph Ouma said his members will support the Governor to ensure he has a good legacy once his term comes to an end.