Kenya has announced major reforms aimed at revitalizing trade along the Northern Corridor by eliminating persistent Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that have hampered the 930-kilometre long route.
Speaking during the Sensitisation Forum on the Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) along the Kenyan section of the Northern Corridor Transit Route at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong, Principal Secretary (PS) for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Dr. Caroline W. Karugu, said the country is incurring losses due to inefficiencies along the corridor.
“Today, we are here with the National Police Service to sensitize officers along the Northern Corridor on the critical role they play as trade-facilitating agents for the Republic of Kenya,” she said. The move follows concerns showing that the country is losing competitiveness in regional trade.
She announced major reforms aimed at revitalizing trade along the Northern Corridor by eliminating persistent Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that have hampered the 930-kilometre route. Photo by Benedict Wasiche
The PS said the new reforms are informed by findings from a December 2025 evaluation exercise, which revealed very slow cargo processing and movement, which have resulted in high costs of doing business with EAC partner states.
She pointed out that the corridor is a vital lifeline of regional trade, handling over 35.84 million metric tonnes of cargo annually and accounting for more than 80 percent of Kenya’s transit trade.
The PS, however, said inefficiencies are driving cargo diversion to competing routes such as Dar- es- Salaam, with Kenya losing about five percent to eight percent of high-value transit cargo year-on-year.
“That data shows that truck owners and business people are leaving the Port of Mombasa and opting to use the Port of Dar-es-Salaam due to fewer non-tariff barriers along the Central Corridor, thus denying Kenya the full benefits of the Corridor,” Dr. Karugu revealed.
She further revealed that there are an excessive number of police roadblocks along the corridor, far above the regional target of fewer than five. That means the more roadblocks, the more time consumed in processing and clearing.
“There are currently 22 to 27 active police roadblocks along the Corridor, significantly exceeding the regional target,” she said adding that transit time between Mombasa and Malaba has increased to 76–80 hours, nearly doubling the expected 36–48 hours, which she described as another challenge which needs to be addressed.
While commending the uniformed officers deployed along the corridor, the PS noted that under-resourcing of the Northern Corridor Transit Patrol Unit (NCTPU), has contributed to a 4–6 hour delay in responding to security alerts.
She also blamed system lapses, noting that “system downtime occurring two to eight times per month, has led to data transmission delays of up to one week, resulting in significant penalties.”
These inefficiencies, she said, have significantly increased logistics costs and reduced the reliability of the Corridor, calling for a multisectoral approach, to ensure Kenya regains its regional trade share.
The PS said the State Department for EAC Affairs, in partnership with the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, and the National Police Service, among other key players, resolved to reduce roadblocks, to at least five, therefore, minimizing time wastage at checkpoints.
Additionally, the new reforms aim to maintain standard transit times between 36 and 48 hours along the Corridor.
DIG Lagat noted that through ongoing discussions, stakeholders aim to have a candid discussion on how to minimize delays caused by police checks without compromising security, adding that a clear way forward will be developed after the engagement. Photo by Benedict Wasiche
They also seek to improve security response times to under one hour, while strengthening and stabilising ICT systems to eliminate delays at checkpoints.
She said the implementation of the reforms aligns with directives issued by East African Heads of State during a recent Summit in Tanzania, which stipulated that all Member States, eliminate NTBs by June 30, 2026.
“We are working around the clock to ensure its implementation of this policy,” she said.
She called for coordinated efforts among the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, the National Police Service, and other stakeholders, to ensure effective implementation of the reforms.
Currently, the Malaba OSBP processes approximately 2,000 trucks daily, while the Busia OSBP handles about 1,500 trucks daily.
Dr. Karugu emphasised that the East African Community remains Kenya’s largest trading partner, with the country recording Sh321.6 billion in trade within the bloc last year.
She noted that Kenya traded Sh126 billion with Uganda and approximately Sh65 billion with Tanzania, underscoring the region’s central role in external trade.
“The East African Community is Kenya’s number one trade partner. Just last year, we traded 321.6 billion shillings within the East African Community and 126 billion with Uganda, followed closely by Tanzania at about 65 billion shillings,” she said.
She noted that the Northern Corridor remains the backbone of this trade, handling more than 80 percent of Kenya’s transit cargo and serving as a critical gateway for landlocked countries in the region.
“The East African Community is indeed a trusted trade partner and number one in terms of trade volumes,” she said.
She said the Corridor is not just 930 kilometers of road, but a trade facilitator into the region, adding, “It is, therefore, in our best interest to ensure that it is efficient,” the PS affirmed.
“We are lucky as the Republic of Kenya to have a port whose waters run deep, and therefore, we are able to transfer vessels of mega capacity,” PS stated.
Despite this strategic importance, Kenya is facing increased competition from the Central Corridor through the Port of Dar-es-Salaam into the landlocked country.
Dr. Karugu further highlighted the financial burden to transporters, noting that ‘every minute of delay is equivalent to one dollar loss’, therefore increasing the cost of doing business and reducing government revenue.
Dr. Karugu stressed that the impact of the corridor extends beyond trade statistics, noting its role in jobs, regional integration, and consumer welfare.
“Beyond the statistics, they represent jobs, revenue, and Kenya’s standing as the premier gateway to East Africa. Every delay and inefficiency directly impacts our national revenue and the cost of goods for consumers across the region,” she said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, said key actors in the Sector are security officers noting that through ongoing discussions, stakeholders aim to have a candid conversation on how to minimize delays caused by police checks without compromising security.
He said a clear way forward will be developed after the engagement.
The new reforms are projected to deliver significant economic gains by reducing transit delays by 50 percent, saving between $288 and $360 per trip for transporters.
Its implementation will ensure the country achieves Annual National Savings of $43 million to $54 million through reduced inefficiencies.
The State Department will, therefore, be convening follow-up meetings regularly to review the progress of all responsible agencies.
by Ian Chepkuto
