This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
On July 15, 2019, a group of traders protesting outside the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices at the Taveta one-stop border post demanded the transfer of an officer they accused of frustrating the clearance of their cargo.
The traders, who were importing maize from Tanzania, claimed that their trucks carrying tonnes of maize had been stuck at the border for one week due to the extended delays by rogue KRA officers.
Operations at the border point had been paralysed as hundreds of trucks carrying assorted goods, including agricultural produce, were stuck.
According to the traders, the government had directed relevant agencies to expedite approvals to avert the maize crisis, but they had been frustrated while doing cross-border business through the Taveta-Holili border.
The border is the main crossing point to Northern Tanzania.
The traders accused an officer based at the KRA offices of demanding bribes from them for their goods to be cleared on time.
"We have been complaining about this facility especially the KRA department but there are no changes. Enough is enough," said Francis Gerison, one of the traders.
Traders said they incur big losses at the key entry point for goods from Tanzania and accused officers of taking their time to clear their consignments.
Taveta Sub-County Police Commander Lawrence Marwa moved in to calm the protesting traders, assuring them that the government would address all their grievances.
