The National Government will open four more border points in Busia County to boost trade between Kenya and Uganda.
The border points earmarked for upgrading include Sio Port, Port Victoria, Mulwanda and Buteba.
The other only gazetted border entry points in the county includes Busia and Malaba One Stop Border Posts.
During a meeting in Mombasa in March, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni agreed to open more border points linking the two East African countries.
At a meeting held at State House Mombasa, President Kenyatta and Museveni said opening more border points will boost trade ties between Kenyan and Uganda.
Museveni said the free movement of people and goods along the border points will also reduce incidences of smuggling and contrabands.
On Wednesday, the Border Control and Operation Coordination Committee led by Kennedy Nyaiyo started the tour of Busia County.
The Committee held a stakeholders meeting at the DIDC Hall before heading to Sio Port and Port Victoria to assess the two designated entry points.
Addressing the media Nyaiyo said the criteria for opening new entry points include accessibility, the vastness of the area and concurrence of the County Government and the residents.
He said the intention of opening new entry points is aimed at sealing all cut-lines resulting in the government losing a lot of money though tax evasion.
County Commander John Nyoike said additional entry points will bring to an end cases of tax evasion which had seen fish allowed from Uganda through porous entry points and with some ferried in Lorries.
Chief Officer in the Office of the Governor Ezekiel Okwach who represented the County Government said there is need to consider other entry points like Adumai in Teso North which has KRA officials.
“The opening of more entry points will enhance taxation and boost Busia County’s economy”he said.
County Director Trade Fred Odalo said Adungosi in Teso South should also be considered as an entry point to check on the cane crossing from Uganda.
He said the other way to protect Kenyan fishermen from harassment by their Ugandan counterparts was to increase the price of fish.
At Marenga Beach in Port Victoria, residents objected to the site being considered an entry point and instead proposed Sumba Island to check on Ugandan security who like harassing Kenyan fishermen.
In a memorandum read by County Beach Management Unit network chairperson Sylvester Kaywa, the fishermen sited harassment by Uganda security, frequent confiscation of fishing gear among others.
They want the National Government to set up a security camp at Sumba Island, demarcation of boundaries, harmonization of trade and marketing policies at the border.