The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has unveiled measures geared towards enhancing cross border trade between Kenya and Uganda through creation of market centres across the borders in Busia and Malaba.
The proposal was reached during a meeting between 18 EALA members and stakeholders from Malaba Kenya and Uganda at the Kenya Customs offices.
EALA team leader for the Northern Corridor Mathias Kasamba said cross border trade will be enhanced by creating market centres whereby gazetted days in every week can be facilitated.
"Goods from Uganda are bought at the border post. Kenyans are free to come and buy the commodities. Equally, Ugandans can cross on the Kenyan side," Kasamba said.
"Commodities which are preferably cheap on the Kenyan side can be accessed by Ugandans and facilitated to cross the border. There are mitigation measures which will enhance job creation and job losses created by improvement of infrastructure and faster period the trucks staying at the border posts."
Kasamba said EALA wants to see a seamless movement of people and investment across the border where residents with national identity or electronic cards can be scanned and scanners used to scan trucks other than opening the seals.
"As long as the Governments continue to create posts and revenue and immigration bodies continue controlling revenue, movement of people and commodities' smuggling will continue unabated. We need to create markets to increase volumes of goods produced. Ugandans wishing to buy goods in Kenya or Kenyans wishing to buy the same in Uganda should be facilitated," he said.