Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collected Sh201.7 million at the Isebania/Sirare border crossing during the 2016/17 financial year.
Julius Musyoki, Commissioner Customs and Border Control said the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Migori County has seen revenue grow steadily at 19 per cent in the last three years.
This, he noted in a statement sent to the newsroom yesterday, indicates the great strides made at the centre – which is among the key business outlets contributing to the country’s economic growth.
An OSBP is an integrated border system whose aim is to bring together all border agencies under one roof for improved efficiencies through streamlined, co-ordinated and harmonised operations.
Musyoki said Isebania post started operations in 2012 with first revenue collection in the financial year 2013/14 at Sh169 million. Transformation of OSBP operations to ensure technology is embraced has, however, led to varied changes in the last three years.
One notable change is the faster clearance of goods through the Single Customs Territory (SCT) regime.
The SCT has helped lift restrictive regulations and minimise internal border controls on goods moving across Tanzania and Kenya.
The Isebania OSBP focuses on KRA Customs Reform and Modernisation Programme, which aims at transforming and modernising Customs Administration and aligning it to internationally accepted standards and best practices.
It has also embraced the redefined function of customs to put greater emphasis on trade facilitation and protection of society. In addition, the post has strengthened enforcement by implementing the OSBP initiative at key points of entry.
Key agencies that work via integrated systems at the OSBP include KRA (Lead Agency), Department of Immigration, Kenya Bureau of Standards and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services.
Since the OSBP initiative was launched there has been standard operating procedures developed to guide cargo and passenger process flow.
Musyoki said joint border meetings and consultations are always held by border agencies and between Kenya and Tanzania. The initiative reduces time to clear cargo and process passengers. Currently, cargo clearance is within two hours of document presentation from the initial six to eight hours.
The border post has increased the sharing of information sharing between border agencies within Kenya and with Tanzania and increased revenue collections.
