Recommendations from  Transport Observatory Reports

Infrastructure Improvement at Malaba and Busia Borders: Invest in and enhance the infrastructure leading to the Busia border Wider road and parking area will contribute to a smoother flow of traffic, reducing congestion and delays at the border crossing There is need to geofence the already stablished roadside parking facilities and further develop the rest stops by county governments, especially in Busia and Malaba to handle traffic to and from the borders The County Government of Busia to prioritize completion of the envisioned truck parking yard to alleviate traffic at the border

Advocacy for infrastructure development and improvement ongoing

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Kenya National Highway Authority

Uganda National Roads Authority

Ensure Functionality of Scanners: Address the issue of non-functional scanners by providing an alternate mobile scanner that is in good working condition Reliable scanning technology is crucial for accurate inspections and timely clearance of goods, contributing to an overall improvement in border efficiency

Ongoing

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Uganda Revenue Authority

Compulsory Goods Pre-Clearance: Implement a mandatory goods pre-clearance process to expedite border crossing procedures This proactive approach will significantly reduce processing time and contribute to a more efficient flow of goods

Advocacy for Pre-Clearance

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Uganda Revenue Authority

Rwanda Revenue Authority

Office Burundais Des Recettes

The Republic of South Sudan National Revenue Authority

With the development of SGR railway lines, there is a recommendation to have dry ports for various Member States to hasten the process of clearing of cargo from the port

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow-up with relevant stakeholders towards establishment of dry ports

VISA requirement hampering Trade in the region. Visa fees requirement should be abolished in all the Northern Corridor Member States to facilitate free movement of people

Pending for DRC and South Sudan

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant agencies towards eliminating visa fees in Member states of DRC and South Sudan

Traders/Clearing Agents should make preparations to pick their cargo from the port (pay their port charges and arrange transport for their cargo in advance).

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to work closely with transport associations and Importers to sensitise members on preparations and its implications

To further minimise delays at ports and border stations for goods in transit whose taxes are not paid at the port or border stations the use of RCTG Carnet should be enhanced and used as a simplified customs declaration and bond security for goods declared in transit or for warehousing in destination countries. This should eliminate the necessity for the use of the conventional Bills of Entry for transiting goods.

Partially done

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders

To enhance quick response towards addressing operational challenges at the border stations, the NCTTCA Secretariat should support Member States in the formation of Cross Joint Border Committees at the key border stations where they do not exist. Furthermore, they should periodically generate and issue performance reports on the key border crossing performance indicators to the respective border stations as a way of monitoring performance. The Member States urged to provide the raw data to support the generation of the reports

Partially done; NCTTCA have established Cross Joint border committees in the Member States of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi

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NCTTCA to work towards establishing Cross Joint Border Committees in all border points

To enhance collection of data on informal trade by all Member States, the Member States which are not collecting data on informal trade urged to adopt the use of methodologies used by the other Member States to collect data on informal trade.

Ongoing activity

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NCTTCA to advocate for adoption of various methodologies for collection of data on informal trade

To effectively provide information to the users and potential investors as regards registration and licensing of businesses and transport companies, KRA, NTSA, URA and RRA should regularly put online the list of licensed trucks, Clearing Agents and ECTS within the region

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant agencies to have the recommendations implemented

To achieve the 120,000Km/year per truck, there is need to train truck drivers on productivity management. The drivers should be paid per millage covered to reduce unnecessary delays and wastages. The truck driver’s association to be involved in training

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NCTTCA to follow up with transporters association and have the recommendation implemented

Though the Northern Corridor pipeline is only up to Eldoret and Kisumu, it is evident that this reduces the trucking distance for transit countries if they pick the products from the nearest depots. There is need to fast track improvement of loading facilities to improve track turnaround and efficiency, and sensitising on the cost savings as a result of the expanded capacity of the pipeline to cushion on the unpredictability of the market

Ongoing

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Kenya Pipeline Corporation

NCTTCA to follow-up with KPC to ascertain the current situation as well as influence for improvement of loading facilities and other measures recommended

There should be identification of trucks on first weighing (certificate of identification on compliance) to avoid multiple stops at the weighbridges and a comprehensive sensitisation of truck drivers on weighing

It is understood that with the introduction of HSWIM, the trucks are only diverted to static weighbridge if they are not compliant with HSWIM.

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Consider measuring the number of stoppages per truck to ascertain if there is frequent weighing of trucks.

There should be a common platform of ECTS in the region as this will ensure cargo integrity and seamless monitoring of transit goods from the origin to the final destination. Data from ECTS to collaborate the GPS survey initiative; Currently, only Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda are using the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System. All the Northern Corridor Member States should join this initiative as goods under RECTS take shorter transit and clearance time

Partially Done: Done for Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda; Pending for DRC, Burundi & South Sudan

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NCTTCA to follow up for RECTS to cover Member states of DRC, Burundi and South Sudan

There should also be sensitisation on regulations and procedures for clearance through customs and immigration; Digital scanner is necessary to minimise delays or easy verification of goods at the border stations

Pending

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders and ensure the recommendations are implemented

There is still longer waiting time at Malaba Border post; Full implementation of the Single Customs Territory should be expedited

Good progress observed

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NCTTCA need to ascertain the recurring queue at that border is adequately addressed

There is reported problem of parking of trucks in major towns and therefore need for relevant authorities to look into creating more parking yards for trucks as well as reduce parking fees

Pending

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NCTTCA need to follow up with relevant stakeholders to have this recommendation implemented

There is reported higher OSBP crossing time at Malaba border. These delays reverse the gains made by OSBP and SCT initiatives calling for enhanced systems connectivity and provision of enough parking yards at the border to reduce congestion. Also, there is a need to do border audit to identify any other bottlenecks affecting the flow of traffic and if need be, review standard operating procedures and removal of duplicate procedures

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NCTTCA need to carry out audits at the borders to ascertain the causes of delays and identify areas of improvements

There is need to upgrade the border stations of Lwakhakha, Suam River and Amudat and the road network leading to these border stations

Pending

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant authorities

There is need to pursue computerisation where border post is not yet computerised to hasten clearance processes

Most OSBPS have been computerised

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NCTTCA to do an assessment of all borders and lobby for computerisation where the borders have not been computerised

There is need to harmonise levies and fees being charged along the corridor—sensitisation of truckers through issuance of information brochures on official charges

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No sensitisation has ever been carried out

There is need to adopt a single transit system for the Northern Corridor for clearance of internationally traded goods as recommended by earlier studies to address this problem. The transit system should encompass a simplified customs declaration as well as customs bonding of goods. The system should also provide a facility for the use of a Carnet

Pending

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders and have this implemented

There is a need to harmonise the charges and penalties for non-compliance on the weighbridges along the NC routes

Pending: Road Agencies

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NCTTCA needs to follow up with the relevant agencies to have the recommendation implemented

There is a need to follow up and ensure time at DPC is reduced from the current reported time. DPC time affects the overall logistics performance and time it takes to move cargo from one point to another.

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to investigate the cause of DPC time and work with stakeholders towards reducing this time.

There is a need for the full implementation of the WTO-TFA, the African CFTA and other trade and transport facilitation instruments to enable countries to increase their competitiveness and enhance economic growth and development

Pending

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NCTTCA to work with the stakeholders to have recommendation fast-tracked

There is a need for further improvement of operations at the ICD for faster evacuation of goods moved under the railway

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NCTTCA to do follow up and confirm implementation of this recommendation

The transporters should be allowed to acquire the R-ECTS devices, and the Customs Authorities retain the the function of operating them, i.e. arming/disarming the seals and tracking movement of the sealed cargo; Geo zone/fence the R-ECTS with the key transit nodes along the Northern Corridor

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NCTTCA to follow up recommendation with customs authorities in Member States

The traders and transporters are therefore to act swiftly to ensure faster evacuation of their cargo from the port after clearance to reduce time wastage as a result of laxities on their side

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with transporters association to influence their members to evacuate cargo to reduce delays.

The single transit system will also eliminate the challenges of clearance and exchange of information across the region being faced by interconnectivity of customs business systems

Pending

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders and have this implemented

The road use charges have not been harmonised across the Member States of the Northern Corridor, and this contributes to the high cost of transport

Pending

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NCTTCA need to follow up with relevant stakeholders to have this recommendation implemented

The report recommended to the Government of South Sudan and the development partners to support South Sudan National Revenue Authority to construct a dry port at Nesitu to minimise congestion and delays in clearance of goods for Home use at Nimule Border

Pending

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NCTTCA need to follow up with the Government of South Sudan and lobby other development partners to have the dry port is established

The report advocates for the increase in cargo off-take by rail and utilising the ICDs to ease pressure on the overstretched road infrastructure and enhance safety along the Northern Corridor

Partially done: Kenya has directed most of the local cargo be transported via SGR

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NCTTCA to work closely with stakeholders towards advocating for more cargo be transported via SGR to ease congestions on the roads

The regional countries are facing trade deficit while imports are increasing with minimal exports. The Member States are to prioritise boosting investments and value addition for exports and capacity building, especially in agro-processing, mining, oil and gas industry which is posed to boost exports from the region.

Ongoing as a long-term activity. Member States are at a different level of implementation.

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NCTTCA to work closely with relevant agencies and device ways of promoting investments and capacity building geared towards addressing trade deficit

The region trades more with the outside world than within. The potential in the region can be unlocked if we boost intra-regional trade. Elimination of visas as stipulated the Northern corridor transit and Transport Agreement and mutual recognition of standards. The index for the ease of doing business in the region is high. Countries need to support and ease procedures in doing business across the region; Also, implementation of trade facilitation instruments varies by country and therefore affecting smooth cross-border trade. Thus, the need for all Northern Corridor Member States to implement fully trade facilitation instruments that exist already.

Ongoing in some Member States; Member States are at a different level of implementation.

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant stakeholders to implement the recommendations towards promoting intra-regional trade in the region.

The quality of the infrastructure is a key consideration in the achievement of the region’s development goals. Regular monitoring of the conditions at a regional level to provide information on the sections for prioritisation in improvement. Widening of the Corridor and development of climbing lanes, were necessary, as a result of increased traffic will help improve in the transit times hence accelerating trade. Most of Northern Corridor is a two-lane road, and speed reduction and necessity of overtaking at uphill paths since large vehicle’s speed reduces at uphill paths. All the Member states should work towards improving the Northern Corridor and should also focus on the development of the roadside stations with all the amenities. These will also be important in improving road safety, reducing driver fatigue, thereby reducing accidents

Partially done; It’s a continuous process

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NCTTCA to continue working with road authorities to monitor road condition and implementing measures towards ensuring quality infrastructure

The port dwell time is dependent on other indicators such as the time taken at one stop centre, time taken at the Document Processing Centre and time taken within the port after customs release. Intervening in the under this these indicators will automatically reduce the port dwell time; In as much as improvement has been registered, the target for the dwell time has not been achieved. Dwell time is affected by many players within the port ranging from the Revenue authority since goods cannot leave without their clearance and other cargo interveners. The free period which is nine days, also has an impact on faster cargo is evacuated from the port. An approach informed by analytics should show how to balance between free period and the dwell time target to inform the review process.

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow-up with relevant stakeholders and address delays as a result of indicators that falls within the dwell time indicator

The pipeline transportation policy which was lifted sometimes back so the decline in the off-take of fuel by the pipeline. This coupled with constraints on the lines as well as ullage issue where only big players are allocated quotas locking out smaller oil marketers have seen most business taken by the tracking companies. This has posed safety issues and congestions along the Northern Corridor.

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Kenya Pipeline Corporation

NCTTCA to follow-up with KPC on the policy

The pipeline capacity has tremendously been increased, and the loading bottleneck at the depot have been addressed. Additionally, the pipeline is also upgrading its systems shifting to digital systems that seek to enhance efficiency as it helps ease congestion on the main Northern Corridor highway. There is need to sensitise transit market of the achievements and facilities available

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NCTTCA to invest more efforts in this programme and continue with the reporting on Green Freight Programs and advocating implementation by Member States

The indicator on time taken after release at the port shows that traders and transporters should, therefore, act swiftly as fast as possible to ensure faster evacuation of their cargo from the port after clearance to reduce time wastage as a result of laxities on their side

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow up with transporters association to influence their members to evacuate cargo to reduce delays.

The current meter gauge Rail transport has declined in terms of capacity though there are plans to improve. The Standard gauge railway (SGR), with the first phase from Mombasa to Nairobi complete, will present an opportunity for increase in trade and uptake of cargo by the railway. The Standard Gauge Railway has no railway sidings. Therefore the existing meter gauge railway should be revitalised to provide connections for transportation and delivery of cargo beyond the SGR terminals

Ongoing

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NCTTCA to follow-up with Railways Transport agencies towards implementation of the recommendation

The container deposit fees charged by the shippers and the free period given should be revised to enhance containerised transport.

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NCTTCA need to follow-up and lobby for this to be implemented

The Policy Guidelines on surface modes of transport should be updated. A regional policy should be prepared, taking into account the clear advantages of each mode in minimising public costs, safety and the environment

Done

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NCTTCA to follow-up with KPC on the policy

The OSBP in plan should look at including LAN & WAN infrastructure in the build with power backup systems as mitigation for outages due to heavy rains and power

The OSBPs have been fitted with internet connections.

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NCTTCA Need to follow up to include power backups and also ascertain the actual position in terms of internet connectivity

The Northern Corridor Member States should strive to ensure that all weighbridges are HSWIM and install the static scales on either side of the road at busy weighbridge stations.

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NCTTCA to follow up and have all weighbridges in Kenya have HSWIM

The Northern Corridor Member States are urged to ease the process of granting work permits to trade facilitation agents in their countries as per the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Agreement to enable them to work efficiently and minimise delays of evacuation of cargo from the port

Pending

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NCTTCA to follow up with transporters association to influence their members to evacuate cargo to reduce delays.

The Member states are urged to harmonise the use of the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime instruments to support small scale cross border trade such as the simplified Certificate of Origin, Simplified Customs Declaration and value limit for goods cleared using the instruments to at least US $ 2000 per consignment

Done in some Member States and ongoing in others

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NCTTCA to follow up with relevant agencies to have this recommendation implemented.

Support in strengthening the logistics industry environment in the Member states

Partially done in some Member States; and Ongoing in others

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NCTTCA to work with Transport Association and identify areas of interventions towards strengthening the logistics industry environment

Stoppage Reasons: In-depth analysis for the personal reasons stoppage by truckers is needed. This includes knowing exact personal reasons as well as specific points where stoppages do occur along the corridor. Therefore, the report recommends a survey to be conducted to inform policy on addressing these delays.

Ongoing (with the online data collection using mobile phones)

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NCTTCA needs to come up with a mechanism of breaking down activities under personal reasons which contributes much on delays and a mechanism on how to address and reduce the delays

Stakeholders should be sensitised on the operations of the SGR and the procedures for handling and clearance of cargo by the SGR which is to be trans-shipped in Nairobi should be developed and circulated to stakeholders to support smooth intermodal transport interchange.

Most of the traders are aware of the procedures

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NCTTCA to work with stakeholders and come up with ways of sensitising traders and other stakeholders on the operations of SGR and procedures for handling and clearance of cargo by SGR.

Sensitisation on regulations and procedures for clearance through customs and immigration

Most traders are informed on regulations and procedures.

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NCTTCA need to work closely with other stakeholders and come up with a strategy of sensitising traders and other stakeholders on regulations and procedures for clearance.