Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has flagged off tonnes of maize cargo held at the Kenya/Tanzania border two days after Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu’s State visit to Kenya.
The maize had been blocked from entering Kenya due to high levels of aflatoxins causing a stand off between Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities.
But following the two day state visit to Kenya where she held discussions with her host President Uhuru Kenyatta, the stand off was resolved and the two countries agreed to improve trade relations between them and to ensure a smooth flow of goods and people.
Uhuru ordered that the problem with maize be resolved within two weeks and directed that a committee between the two countries be formed for be addressing trade and borders issues as they arise.
Suluhu’s visit was seen as an important one since relations between the two countries have been frosty and in the process hampered cross-border trade.
Yesterday CS Munya said he flagged off cargo stuck at Namanga border to ensure full implementation of resident Uhuru’s directives.
Munya requested all government agencies working at the border to work together to avoid duplication of processes and that the processes should take at most two hours to ensure goods in and out of the country.
“I have requested all government agencies working at the border point to work together to avoid duplication of the processes when clearing cargo and ensure compliance of all safety measures in-order to protect health of citizens. This process should take at most 2 hours to allow goods in and out of the country,’’ he said.
While address business people in Kenya, Suluhu said her country was ready to remove trade barriers that have impeded growth of businesses or frustrated investors.
