The Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) has decried the proposed entry fees set to be rolled out in Busia County on transit vehicles passing through the border County.

In a statement on Monday, August 12, 2024, KTA noted that the levies contained in the Busia County Government Finance Act 2023, would pose a serious threat to businesses and that truck drivers could divert to cheaper alternative routes.

“Kenya Transporters Association Limited (KTA) vehemently opposes and rejects the proposed imposition of entry fees for all trucks transiting Busia County on national government roads. As a border county with Uganda, Busia is a crucial gateway for all exports and imports passing through the Busia and Malaba borders,” KTA chairman Newton Wang’oo said.

The Busia County Finance Act 2023 (Schedule 5, Part D) requires all transit trucks and trailers entering Busia County to pay entry fees effective August 1, 2024. This includes trucks crossing the borders of Busia and Malaba.

KTA contends that Busia is contravening Article 209 of the 2010 Constitution which gives counties the power to levy charges on services rendered.

Additionally, the transporters’ body argues that the introduction of such fees is unfair, given that trucks traverse at least 15 counties from the port of Mombasa to deliver essential goods and services to the people.

Wang’oo notes that should every County begin charging entry fees to all transporters entering their borders, the cost of commodities would go high, making life difficult for businesspeople and buyers.

“The Busia County trucks entry fee will escalate import and export costs, rendering the Northern Corridor less viable. Consequently, traders may opt for the Central Corridor through Tanzania,” he warned.

He also stated that the county governments lacked the jurisdiction to restrict movement on national highways which are maintained by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA).

Transporters’ recommendations

Wang’oo said the transporters’ body is totally opposed to the proposed fees and that should the county insist on charging them, they would mobilise the truck drivers to disobey and fail to pay such fees.

Additionally, Wang’oo said that they would convene a meeting between the national government and the Council of Governors (CoG) to compel Busia County to drop the proposed charges.

He also stated that they may need to address importers and exporters on the increased costs of the route and ensure they divert their business through the Tanzania Central Corridor which is cheaper and more business-friendly.