This archive report was first published on 4 May 2021.
On May 4, 2021, Kenya and Tanzania made significant strides in strengthening their trade and cultural ties, with a commitment to eliminate barriers hindering the smooth flow of trade and people between the two East African nations.
During a bilateral meeting at State House, Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta and visiting Tanzania Head of State Samia Suluhu Hassan led talks that aimed to address the disjointed enforcement of cross-border COVID-19 containment protocols, a major non-tariff trade barrier between the two nations.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan emphasized the need for a structured system of testing at border points to facilitate easy movement of people and businesses. "Just as His Excellency the President has said, we have agreed that our Health Ministers need to sit down and come up with a structured system of testing our people at the border points to allow easy movement of our people so as to do their businesses," she said.
The two leaders noted that Kenya and Tanzania need to develop modalities for mutual recognition of COVID-19 test results, acknowledging that the lack of harmonized protocols has hindered free flow of goods and people.
President Kenyatta congratulated President Suluhu for assuming the leadership of Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and assured her of Kenya's unwavering support. He highlighted the shared culture, language, heritage, and ancestry between the two nations, emphasizing the need for unity and cooperation.
The two countries agreed to re-energize their Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) to address issues affecting trade, including the importation of natural gas from Tanzania to Kenya and cultural exchanges. President Kenyatta emphasized the need for a structured system to facilitate investment and economic growth.
The leaders also discussed the need to improve connectivity through new roads, aviation, and maritime transport to hasten economic growth. President Kenyatta announced plans to strengthen aviation, railway, sea, and lake transport, as well as roads, and to hasten the construction of the Malindi-Lunga lunga-Bagamoyo Road to ease movement of goods and people.
