KBC Channel 1

Tag: Traders

  • Traders, Clearing Agents Protest Decentralization of Container Release Operations by KRA

    Traders, Clearing Agents Protest Decentralization of Container Release Operations by KRA

    A section of Traders and Clearing Agents are calling for the decentralization of container release operations to enhance efficiency and reduce the turnaround time at the Port of Mombasa and Container Freight Stations (CFS).

    The traders, led by Oldtown Member of County Assembly (MCA) Abdulrahman Hussein, vented out their frustrations on the prolonged release process.

    They expressed concern that since the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) introduced the Centralised Release Operations (CRO), they have suffered significant losses. Under the CRO system, Customs and Border Control Release Officers are stationed in a centralised location and are randomly assigned customs declarations to process.

    MCA Hussein says that despite that, the first executive order signed by the Head of State when he took over the reins of power in 2022 was to return the Port operations to Mombasa, some elements are hell bent to claw back on the gains made.

    However, he noted that two years after the move by the Head of State, issues have arisen to the chagrin of the traders. “Initially, to clear a container, it used to take one or two days, but now it takes up to five or seven days. It has resulted in demurrages, loss of business and additional storage charges.”

    He further stated that the situation has been worsened by the existence of Centralised Release Officers who are stationed in Nairobi.

    “The containers are cleared here in Mombasa, but a person in Nairobi must give the go-ahead for a container to be released. The person sitting in Nairobi has not seen the container, yet he must provide the go-ahead; that issue has angered us,” decried the MCA.

    They are now demanding that KRA officers stationed at the port and CFSs be granted full authority to release containers, arguing that this would significantly boost operational efficiency.

    They have threatened to go to court if the Ministry of Transport and KRA do not heed their calls to streamline the release of containers.

    “We are tired of the new directive from KRA, which is contrary to the law. In the past, we had Release Officers in each unit of the CFS, but now it has changed; we only have a Release Officer here and in Nairobi,” Abu Muhsin, a Trader, lamented.

    Harriet Mugenda, a Human Rights Activist, said the move to Centralised Release Operations is hurting the economy of the Coast region.

  • Githurai: Traders allocated stalls in new market

    Githurai: Traders allocated stalls in new market

    Traders in Githurai have a reason to smile after the market was opened following many days of speculation over the state of the market.

    The traders, estimated to be over 1000 have already been allocated the new stalls at the new constructed market through successful balloting said they had been eagerly waiting to occupy and conduct business since they had suffered enough while operating outside.

    Speaking outside the market led by their coordinator Pauline Wambui, they thanked the Government through the President for initiating and ensuring that the project had been a success to the people of Githurai.

    While appealing to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi to fully intervene and ensure that the running of the market went on smoothly, they said that politics was out of the process saying that they would forge ahead in ensuring that the market will benefit all.

    Some of the traders who occupied the stalls said they were more than ready to operate their businesses as they had suffered great losses since being balloted and now it was a great chance to recover whatever little they could to enhance smooth running of their businesses.

    They cautioned against divisive politics in the market that could derail the successful process, noting that it was one of the noble Government projects that had been initiated in the area.