Hostile border officials terrorize travelers crossing between Kenya and Tanzania at Namanga and other posts
Trade between Kenya and Tanzania is valued at USD 860 million, which has drastically dropped by over USD 100 million compared to the previous years when the figure used to average at between USD 900 million and USD 960 million
Black News 
Hostile officials and other ill-performing personnel working at the border posts have been accused of stifling trade and regional development between Kenya and Tanzania.
Addressing the National Assembly in Dodoma, the President of Kenya, Dr William Ruto pointed out that trade between Tanzania and his country have recently been slumping due to the horrid treatment that people are compelled to suffer when crossing the border between the two countries.
“People complain of being harassed by officials at the borders,” pointed out President Ruto during his recent working visit to Tanzania, adding that the hostile personnel, together with other Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) cripple the East African Community (EAC)’s Common Market Protocol.
He said the current value of trade between Kenya and Tanzania stands at USD 860 million, which has drastically dropped by over USD 100 million compared to the previous years when the figure used to average at between USD 900 million and USD 960 million.
Ruto blames hostile border officials for that.
“That is why we have just resolved that all non-tariff barriers to regional trade should be abolished before the 30th of June 2026,” President Ruto maintained.
As far as he is concerned, both Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to ensure that the value of inter-trade between the two countries should at least reach USD 1 billion by December 2026.
“However, this will never be realized if our officials at the borders continue to underperform and also harass travelers and traders alike,” Ruto insisted.
But even before the Kenyan Head of State presented the issue before the Parliament in Tanzania, many travelers have been recounting the horrible experiences that they are usually compelled to encounter while crossing through mostly the Namanga Border.
Kenya’s investments in Tanzania currently averages at USD 1 billion and counting.
On the other hand, Tanzanian business entities have so far invested over USD 350 million in Kenya.
It has also been reported that the value of trade between East African Community member states currently stands at USD 19.3 billion and experts point out that the figure is very low compared to the potential that the region has.
But it is not just between Kenya and Tanzania, President William Ruto wants the same case applied to intra-Africa trade which he feels must also be boosted in order for the continent to realize its power and potential across 1.5 billion people in Africa.
