Leaders from Mandera have asked the government to lift the decree closing the Kenya/Somalia border closed four years ago following rampant attacks by the Al Shabaab militias.
Led by area Deputy Governor (DG), Mohamed Arai, the leaders asked the government to lift the order to allow free movement of goods and people across the two neighbouring countries.
Arai noted that virtually all the food stuff consumed in Mandera County came from Somalia.
The DG said the county was being denied revenue at the customs department as traders used alternative routes to access Mandera to sell their wares.
“By closing the border, we are denying the government revenue levied at the customs office as traders have resorted to using ‘panya’ routes to access the Mandera food market,” said Arai.
Many of the food items consumed in the region including Wajir come from Somalia as Nairobi is over 1, 000 kilometers from the Mandera town.
Food stuff from Somalia consumed in Mandera town include sugar, soft drinks and rice.
By Dickson Githaiga
