By KPC Reporter
The East African Community (EAC) has urged Partner States to eliminate administrative and regulatory barriers that continue to hinder the smooth movement of goods across the region, warning that such obstacles are increasing business costs and undermining competitiveness.
EAC Secretary General Hon. Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi made the call during a high-level implementation mission to the Sirari-Isebania One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on the Kenya-Tanzania border and the Busia-Busia OSBP on the Kenya-Uganda border on July 4 and 6, 2026.
The mission, conducted under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Enhancing the Efficiency of One Stop Border Posts and Corridors to Deepen EAC Integration,” was Amb. Mbundi’s first official assessment of regional border operations since assuming office.
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During the visits, the Secretary General inspected cargo clearance operations and held consultations with customs and immigration officials, transporters, freight forwarders, cross-border traders, business leaders and local communities to evaluate the implementation of regional trade facilitation programmes.
Despite acknowledging significant gains made through initiatives such as the One Stop Border Post framework, Coordinated Border Management, the Single Customs Territory and the EAC Customs Bond, Amb. Mbundi said more work was needed to unlock the full potential of regional trade.
“Border clearance has become faster, cooperation among border agencies has improved, cargo movements have become more predictable and businesses are benefiting from lower transaction costs and simplified customs procedures,” he said.
The Secretary General noted that the Community aims to increase intra-EAC trade to 50 per cent by 2030, a target that will require stronger cooperation among governments, businesses and border communities.
At the Sirari-Isebania border, officials reported continued growth in trade volumes, which the EAC attributed to improved trade facilitation measures and investments in border infrastructure. Amb. Mbundi also praised the strong social and economic ties between communities on both sides of the border.
“The Sirari-Isebania border is a gateway connecting two of Africa’s premier tourism destinations, the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti ecosystems. Efficient border management is essential not only for facilitating trade but also for promoting multi-destination tourism,” he said.
At Busia, one of the busiest border crossings in East Africa, the Secretary General observed thriving commercial activity involving thousands of traders, transporters and service providers.
He said efficient border operations play a crucial role in supporting jobs, strengthening regional value chains and promoting inclusive economic growth.
However, stakeholders highlighted several persistent challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, a lack of modern cargo scanners, congestion caused by increasing trade volumes, inconsistent implementation of 24-hour border operations, overlapping regulatory procedures, domestic taxes and slow integration of government digital systems.
Cross-border traders, especially women and youth, also called for greater awareness of the Simplified Trade Regime and improved access to trade information.
Responding to the concerns, Amb. Mbundi stressed that the next phase of regional integration must focus on eliminating non-tariff barriers and harmonising domestic regulations.
“We have made significant progress in removing tariff barriers. Our priority now is to eliminate the administrative and regulatory obstacles that continue to increase the cost and time of doing business across our region,” he said.
The Secretary General also called for accelerated digital integration among customs, immigration and other border agencies to support paperless trade and real-time information sharing.
He praised the EAC Customs Bond, saying it has significantly reduced the cost of moving goods across Partner States by replacing multiple national guarantees with a single regional bond.
Looking ahead, Amb. Mbundi directed the EAC Secretariat to work with Partner States on priority actions including expanding border infrastructure, deploying modern cargo scanners, strengthening coordinated border management, eliminating non-tariff barriers, improving Trade Information Desks and accelerating digital integration.
“The success of East African integration will not be measured by the number of agreements we conclude. It will be measured by how easily our people trade, travel, invest and create opportunities across the region,” he said.
The EAC said similar assessment missions will be conducted at other One Stop Border Posts across the bloc as it seeks to strengthen regional competitiveness and ensure the benefits of integration are felt by citizens across East Africa.
