Transport Cabinet Secretary Kicphumba Murkomen exposed several hitches that led to truck congestion and affected trade at the Malaba One Stop Border Post following a meeting with officials sent by Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
In the meeting with Musa Echweru, Uganda's State Minister of Works and Transport, Murkomen stated inadequate holding areas, lack of backup scanners and poor documentation for clearance purposes, led to congestion at the border point.
Murkomen added that the unsupportive road network on both Kenyan and Uganda sides, and the lack of auxiliary roads at the border contributed to the occasional pile-up.
"On the railway side, we noted the low turnaround of rolling stock and non-operationalisation of the trackage rights framework as major areas of concern," Murkomen stated.
After exposing the hitches leading to congestion, Murkomen directed the Kenya National Highway (KeNHA) to improve on the 21-kilometre road connecting the Luakhakha border point to the Eldoret- Malaba highway.
The Transport CS noted that the clearance of empty trucks would be fast-tracked at the Luakhakha border point, easing pressure at the Malaba border point.
"Also, the Ministry will be exploring the best financing options to construct the 640M Outbound Lane at the One-Stop Border Post to enable the seamless movement of trucks," Murkomen maintained.
Besides revamping the road network, the former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator directed Transport Principal Secretary to form a joint committee with their Ugandan counterparts to devise new strategies to address the traffic congestion at the Malaba border point.
Further, Murkomen announced an operation to unearth cartels and issues impeding cargo movement via the Metre Gauge Railway linking the Port of Mombasa with Kampala and other countries along the corridor.
Murkomen convinced his Ugandan counterpart that the solution was key to spurring development and bolstering trade between Kenya and Uganda.
His sentiments came after Kenya renewed plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway to Uganda. The Kenya line will start from the Naivasha - Kisumu - Malaba border.
Moreover, Murkomen revealed that Uganda was exploring connecting Rwanda through the SGR line.
"Together, we agreed that constructing the SGR as a regional project is critical in promoting seamless transport and deepening regional integration.
"We agreed that connecting sections of the Naivasha- Malaba and Malaba - Kampala SGR sections will have to be fast-tracked while the feasibility studies of the Kigali and Tororo - Gulu - Nimule sections will be expedited," read the statement in part.
However, Murkomen did not disclose whether the government had secured funds for the project.
