The Busia One Stop Border Point (OSBP) has been identified as a crucial trade gateway that urgently requires expansion to enhance efficiency and strengthen cross-border trade between Kenya and neighbouring countries.
During a fact-finding mission on Wednesday, members of the Senate Standing Committee on Trade, led by Sen. Issa Juma Boy (Kwale), called on the national government to prioritize the expansion of the facility, citing the availability of additional land that could ease congestion and facilitate smoother operations.
While addressing the Senators, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Manager at the Border Point, Mr. Mohamed Hussein, outlined several challenges affecting daily operations. He noted that the Busia border remains porous, with limited monitoring capacity and inadequate infrastructure.
“The current yard can only accommodate 40 trucks at a time, which is far below the daily traffic volume. We are grappling with infrastructural constraints, insufficient power supply, and inadequate human resources,” said Mr. Hussein.
Mr. Richard Makhulo, representing the Kenya Long Distance Drivers Union, echoed these concerns, decrying persistent congestion that leads to long delays.
He urged the Senate to advocate for expansion, terming it critical for both trade efficiency and driver safety.
“We also appeal to the Busia County Government to expedite the construction of a trailer park to provide proper facilities for truck drivers awaiting clearance,” he said.
From the freight sector, Mr. Stephen Mung’oma, representing clearing and forwarding agents, called for harmonisation of trade policies between Kenya and Uganda.
He proposed that permit approvals be processed directly at border points instead of Nairobi to reduce waiting times and improve workflow.
Members of the Busia Women Cross Border SACCO, led by Mrs. Wanjiku Mugo, raised concerns over how congestion affects small-scale traders.
“Our businesses suffer because of the constant traffic snarl-ups. We need a dedicated space where women traders can operate safely and comfortably,” she said.
Truck drivers also appealed for the construction of a wellbeing centre to cater for their welfare as they await clearance.
In response, the Senators assured stakeholders that their grievances would be presented to the relevant government agencies.
“It is unacceptable to take 30 minutes to clear one truck. Such inefficiencies slow down trade and hurt business. We must modernize the process to make it faster and more efficient,” said Sen. Issa Juma Boy.
Sen. Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) backed the proposal and urged the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to establish wellbeing centres for truck drivers along major trade routes. The lawmakers pledged to engage relevant ministries to address challenges at the Busia border.
Despite these challenges, the Busia OSBP continues to perform strongly, collecting KSh 6.83 billion in revenue against a target of KSh 5.33 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year — a testament to its strategic importance in regional trade.
The Senators also commended the cordial relations between Kenya and Uganda at the Busia border, noting that cooperation between the two countries remains among the strongest in the region.
