By Mercy Buyanzi -Trans-Nzoia County
A team of Kenya’s senior government officials on Wednesday disclosed that the facility, whose construction had previously stalled, has now been finalized and is set for inauguration in a month’s time.
He stated that the two nations are collaborating in readiness for the launch of the two new OSBPs—one on the Kenyan side and the other on the Ugandan side.
Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo headed the delegation to inspect the project on Wednesday and mentioned that the facility is currently functional but not at full capacity.
“We are here to assess the project and I can affirm that it is operational, though we anticipate it will run at full capacity after it is inaugurated by the two Heads of State,” said Dr. Omollo.
The PS, accompanied by his East Africa Community counterpart Esther Karugu and Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, said the project will help reduce congestion at the Busia and Malaba customs border posts.
“This is a strategic installation that will relieve significant pressure on our two border points in terms of traffic, the movement of people, and the flow of goods,” he added.
He also noted that the government has set aside funds to establish a housing complex, a hospital, and a school to improve services in the border town that will be developed soon.
The bilateral initiative was executed after former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni signed an agreement in Mombasa in 2019.
The Sh100 million facility is part of a Sh4.6 billion bilateral programme financed by the African Development Bank (ADB), which also includes tarmacking 42 kilometres of the Kitale–Endebess–Suam road and constructing a market in Kitale town.
Dr. Omollo disclosed that earlier the project had faced logistical and procurement setbacks during implementation, including a financial shortfall that slowed its completion.
Initially planned for completion in 2022, the project was halted in 2024 after the contractor stopped work due to unpaid dues.
On her part, EAC Principal Secretary Esther Karugu said the bilateral infrastructure will enhance trade not only between Kenya and Uganda but also act as a gateway to other East African nations, including Tanzania and South Sudan.
She remarked that Uganda is Kenya’s leading trade partner, with last year recording trade worth Sh125 billion, adding that the new facility will strengthen trading capacity.
“Our vision is to invest more and advance intra-regional trade within East Africa. Currently, we are trading at about 12.1 percent, but we aim to raise it to around 50 percent as East African countries,” she added.
She observed that infrastructure remains a key development pillar that will bolster commerce and business between Kenya and Uganda.
