New one-stop post at Lunga Lunga to help ease operations on Kenya-Tanzania border
A bus crosses the Kenya-Tanzania border at Lunga Lunga. They opening of the new one-stop border post will help ease operations between the two countries. PHOTO | FAROUK MWABEGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The new post has helped to limit stopovers and minimise delays caused during transactions and clearing of passengers and goods across the border.
- Mr Pius said operations of the post are such that vehicles destined for Tanzania will go straight without stopping in Kenya and the same will apply to those which are destined to Kenya.
- He added that once the vehicles get to the other side of the border, immigration and custom officers will clear them before they proceed to their intended destinations.
- Mr Marwa urged officers at the station to work hard in order to ensure that the concept of a one-stop border post which is in lined with regional integration succeeds.
Operations at the Kenya-Tanzania border in Lunga Lunga have been streamlined following the opening up of a new one-stop post two weeks ago.
The new post has helped to limit stopovers and minimise delays caused during transactions and clearing of passengers and goods across the border.
According to KRA Station Manager OkolloKwach Pius, the operations of the one-stop border post will be managed by officers from both Kenya and Tanzania.
Mr Pius said operations of the post are such that vehicles destined for Tanzania will go straight without stopping in Kenya and the same will apply to those which are destined to Kenya.
He added that once the vehicles get to the other side of the border, immigration and custom officers will clear them before they proceed to their intended destinations.
“We are going to have Tanzanian officers posted here in our one-stop border post and Kenyan officers posted to the Tanzanian side for clearance and revenue collection,” he said.
DELAY IN DISBURSING FUNDS
Separately, clerk of works at the post Moses Orwa said the station was supposed to be opened one year ago but there was a delay in disbursement of funds from the government and the World Bank.
Mr Orwa said the initial cost of constructing the new headquarters was estimated at Sh469 million but it cost Sh633 million after appraisal by national government.
“Our offices have now moved to the other side where the lead agency is the Kenya Revenue Authority while the Immigration Department is holding the title deed,” he said.
Recently, Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa visited the post and promised to push the government to ensure that all the challenges facing workers at the post are resolved.
Mr Marwa urged officers at the station to work hard in order to ensure that the concept of a one-stop border post which is in lined with regional integration succeeds.
“The world is trying to break the stumbling blocks between countries.
“These blocks are useless. They are trying to block business and regional integration,” he said.
