The National Government through the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC) is working on a national draft policy to address the porosity of borders and seal all illegal entry and exit points.
The policy will ensure that the borders are well secured, with well-coordinated border patrols and further guide entry or exit of goods and people through the gazetted border points.
Over the years, there have been many concerns including smuggling of drugs and illegal goods especially sugar and powdered milk, human trafficking and entry of terrorists into the country through the porous borders which are potential risks to national security.
Speaking during a meeting with security agencies, immigration, and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials in Garissa, the Secretary at the state department for internal security and national administration in charge of border management Kennedy Nyaiyo said that a well-coordinated approach will not only secure the borders but also guarantee legitimate trade and travels.
“These engagements are meant to help us understand the nature of porosity in this region. The outcome is very clear that porosity in this region is very high. We note that the borders are currently closed but we still have trade happening meaning that these goods are coming in through panya routes which have not been gazetted,” Nyaiyo said.
“If we do not have borders that are secure, then we cannot talk about trade or travel. When you walk in all these shops in this region, you will find that the sugar and many other products may be coming through the porous borders,” he added.
On his part Mr Rashid Khator, the Secretary for Administration in the ministry of Agriculture, said that the entry of goods and products through the porous borders is a big disadvantage to the Kenyan farmers whose market is being taken by illegal goods.
He called on Kenyans and business people to be patriotic and only consume locally produced goods or those that have been imported through the right channels.
“Production has increased with this government and we want a market for our products including maize and sugar. We need to address the gaps that are there to allow the smuggling of other products from other countries,” Khator said.
Garissa county commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo on the other hand said that the area administrators and their security agencies are working to manage the borders but said they are working with other partners to improve the situation for better border management.
He called for a collaboration with the political leaders and the local communities noting that border control and safety is a shared responsibility for all citizens.
“We are consuming a lot of foods coming from across the borders which do not go through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) which is very dangerous because we do not know whether these goods are safe for human consumption,” Mwabudzo warned.
“We are calling the leadership across this area to look into the challenges and the wider perspective of the border porosity because in the long run we could face challenges which could have been solved now,” he added.
By Erick Kyalo
