Tanzania and Kenya have intensified a trade conflict over border inspections, with both nations accusing each other of breaching East African Community (EAC) trade protocols. The dispute centers on the testing of goods crossing their shared border, a practice that has disrupted cross-border commerce.
Kenya lodged a formal complaint with the EAC Secretariat after Tanzanian authorities detained Kenyan shipments for over seven days to conduct quality tests. The measure, implemented on February 25, violates an existing EAC agreement mandating mutual recognition of product standards. Tanzania alleges Kenya has similarly subjected Tanzanian goods to repeated quality checks, including for spirits and tiles, despite their compliance with Tanzanian standards.
Lazaro Msasalaga, acting director for quality management at Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), stated that Kenyan authorities have conducted unilaterally tests on Tanzanian products for three months. "We wrote to Kenya’s Bureau of Standards (Kebs) but received no response," he said, citing the lack of communication as a catalyst for Tanzania’s retaliatory measures.
A TBS directive instructed border officials to inspect all Kenyan goods, regardless of their certification status. Simon Kidiga, a TBS quality assurance officer, emphasized that shipments would only be cleared after meeting Tanzanian regulatory requirements. The EAC Secretariat has urged both countries to avoid duplicative testing, warning that such practices undermine regional integration efforts.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) reported significant financial losses due to delayed cargo clearances, particularly in the metal and automotive sectors. Phyllis Wakiaga, KAM’s CEO, criticized the standoff for contradicting the EAC’s integration goals. Meanwhile, Tanzanian officials described their actions as a temporary measure to verify product quality before Kenyan goods enter their market.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Adan Mohamed, confirmed discussions with his Tanzanian counterpart to resolve the crisis at the Namanga border. The two nations have a history of trade disputes, including Kenya’s 2017 ban on Tanzanian liquefied petroleum gas and Tanzania’s subsequent restrictions on Kenyan dairy products and cigarettes.
