The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Kes 946 million from taxes in the Western region in September following a raft of measures to curb the smuggling of goods through the Uganda and Tanzania borders.

KRA Western Regional Coordinator Ms. Patience Wanjau revealed that the Authority generated more revenue from customs at the Malaba, Busia, and Isebania One-Stop Border Posts (OSBP’s) and the Lwakhakha satellite station through enhanced surveillance and enforcement in the region.

 According to Wanjau, even though the figure fell short of the Kes 1 billion monthly target, the performance was encouraging, given the tough economic times.

Out of the total collections, Malaba OSBP generated Kes 540 million due to enhanced truck clearance efficiency, making it a key route for goods destined for Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“This speaks to the significance of this border post because what Mombasa is to Kenya, that is what Malaba is to Uganda therefore the trade flows are significant. By servicing Uganda, we are then servicing further into East and Central Africa.”

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Similarly, she revealed that the Authority was in talks with their Ugandan counterparts to ensure that all scanners were working round the clock to ease clearance of inbound and outbound cargo.

She said KRA has set up a customer service center at the border post that brings together all the partner government agencies from Kenya, Uganda, and the DRC to facilitate trade and enhance efficiency.

“With the setting up of the service center, we expect that the trade volumes will go up. A lot more of our traders will continue to use this facility.”

She added that small-scale cross-border traders have been allocated space at the service center to facilitate their businesses and broaden KRA’s tax base.

She said the traders will have access to all KRA services at the center, including PIN registration and tax return filing, to ensure that they operate within the law.