Kenya will step up engagement with Tanzanian authorities to address operational gaps limiting trade at the Taveta–Holili One Stop Border Post (OSBP), with officials identifying the need for geofencing along the Himo–Holili corridor.
A joint review led by Principal Secretary in the East African Community docket Caroline Karugu found that the border post is operating below capacity.
The review pointed to opportunities to enhance efficiency and trade flows along the Kenya–Tanzania corridor to improve cargo movement and regional commerce, such as geofencing.
The assessment, presented during a meeting hosted by Taita Taveta County Governor Andrew Mwadime, showed that about 300 trucks enter Kenya daily from Tanzania, most of them empty, while approximately 90 trucks exit carrying exports, underscoring untapped outbound trade potential.
Karugu said harmonised geofencing across the corridor would improve cargo tracking, streamline customs processes, and make the route more attractive to transporters and logistics firms operating within the region.
Geofencing, she added, enables real-time monitoring of goods in transit, enhancing compliance, security, and efficiency: key requirements for modern cross-border trade systems.
Data from the review shows that Kenya’s exports through the Taveta–Holili OSBP are largely manufactured goods such as steel and iron, while imports from Tanzania mainly comprise agricultural produce and food items.
Despite its strategic position as a gateway to northern Tanzania and the wider southern African market, the border post handled transactions worth Sh383 million last year, a modest figure compared to Kenya’s overall trade performance of Sh321 billion, highlighting significant room for growth.
The push for improved border systems aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritises expanding market access for local producers, strengthening value chains, and increasing export competitiveness.
It also supports commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost intra-African trade by reducing barriers and improving trade infrastructure, including efficient border management.
Mwadime said strengthening operational efficiency at the border would help scale up exports, reduce transit time, and position the corridor as a key link in regional supply chains.
If fully optimised, the border post could significantly raise export volumes for Kenyan manufacturers, open new markets for small and medium enterprises, and increase customs revenue, driving job creation and supporting broader national economic growth.
Karugu also emphasized the importance of sustained bilateral cooperation with Tanzania to enhance both trade facilitation and cross-border security.
“We are one people. In the EAC there are no borders, only bridges,” Karugu said, reaffirming the need for continued engagement to support seamless movement of goods and deepen regional integration.
By Arnold Linga Masila
