The state is in the final stage of plans to establish another border entry point in Marsabit County in addition to the gazzetted Moyale one-stop border point to enhance trade and free movement of people between Kenya and Ethiopia.
The idea, which has been significantly supported and endorsed by the county government of Marsabit during a consultative meeting with the Border Control and Operation Coordination Committee (BCOCC) also aims to control diseases and smuggling along the porous border.
Border Management Secretariat (BMS) Director Kennedy Nyaiyo revealed that the government is planning to open up 26 new points of entry and exit with its neighbors. Five of those points will be along the border with Ethiopia.
Mr Nyaiyo said that Kenya has a free trade agreement with Ethiopia and was exploring the potential that areas like Forole (Marsabit), Siftu and Malkamari (Wajir) Rhamu (Mandera) and Todanyang (Turkana) on the over 800 kilometres stretch, with an aim of developing them into one-stop border points.
He added that the prospective for growth in economic, security and infrastructure scopes was great besides boosting the revenue base for both county and national government, the cost of doing business would be significantly reduced.
The BCOCC that draws its representatives from BMS, KEBS, border control and enforcement, KRA, the State Department for Livestock, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, Immigration Department among others would be visiting Forole and Illeret areas to ascertain their suitability for One Stop Business Point.
