A team from the Ministry of East African Community, East African Business Council (EABC), Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA), European Union, International Organization for Migration (IOM) started the tour of Busia on Monday to assess how Covid-19, the traffic snarl-up in Busia and Malaba and Afflatoxin has affected the cash flow, flow of goods and business between Kenya and Uganda.
The stakeholders’ team that was led by PS Ministry of EAC and Regional Development, Dr Devit Desai has toured other border towns including Isebania and Namanga on afflatoxin surveillance, testing and issuance of COVID-19 free certificates and challenges faced by small scale cross border traders.

The PS said the huge traffic pile up was attributed to shortage of reagents, noting that the Government has since obtained adequate supplies with the snarl-up expected to reduce drastically by next week.

“The fight against afflatoxin can be won by putting in place the necessary legislation, regulations, standards, coordination, infrastructure, capacity development and innovation,” he said, noting that efforts are being put in place to promote safe trade through the construction of Busia Jumuiya market.
EABC Executive Director, Dr. Peter Mathuki said COVID-19 has caused heavy toll on cash flow among East African Member states.

Dr Mathuki said between January and June this year exports from Kenya to Uganda was 254 USD compared to 235 USD during the same period last year; this confirms Uganda is a key strategic partner for Kenya and vice versa.

He also noted that exports from Kenya to Uganda decreased while Uganda’s exports to Kenya increased. EAC member states are set to lose USD250 due to afflatoxin with African continent to lose 700 USD, adding that 40 per cent local food consumed are afflatoxin contaminated.
Busia Trade Executive, Judith Maketso who represented Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said there is urgent need to address the issue of afflatoxin and the use of ICT in training small scale cross border traders to keep their operations intact even under Covid-19 conditions.

County Commissioner, Joseph Kanyiri urged the Kenya National Highway Authority to deliver quality roads by assigning good contractors, noting that they will not hesitate to arraign to court contractors who do shoddy job.

Those present included EU Regional Trade Adviser Martiijn Boelen, TMEA, Director Infrastructure Sjoerd Visse, Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association chairman Elijah Nyaga, Kenya Transport Association representative Mercy Njeri and Busia Cross Border Association chairman David Erulu.

The PS later received test kits for Covid-19 donated by East African Surveillance Disease Network through Makerere University as the lead agency.

Photo: EAC PS Devit Desai receives test kits for Covid-19 from East Africa Surveillance Disease Network.

- Busia Trade Executive Judith Maketso at the One Stop Border Post on Monday.

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