The port of Mombasa: The KPA is one of the State agencies that have links to the online system. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
E-window system
The Kenya Trade Network Agency says more than 20 State authorities, including KRA and KPA, have been linked to the tool.
Rwanda is the only EAC country that has piloted the platform. Indeed President Kagame of Rwanda officially launched it in Nairobi.
The back-up will have up to three sites by the end of the year.
The deal is part of a new deal with the TradeMark East Africa.
The single online portal for lodging trade documents, commonly known as the National Electronic Single Window system, will have two back-up modules to prevent disruption during outages.
Amos Wangora, acting chief executive Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), the State agency charged with implementing the single electronic window system (SWS), said the primary site would be supported to lower the risk of disruption.
“By end of the year we will also have a third site — the disaster recovery site — that in case the other two are down we will still have a third site with all material backed,” said Mr Wangora during the signing of a new MoU with TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) in Nairobi last week.
He said more than 20 government agencies have so far integrated their operations with the SWS.
Several agencies including the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) are already operating on the platform that has also been piloted by other East Africa Community (EAC) partner state, Rwanda.
This online facility enables parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.
For hardware and software, the system encourages interoperability for those involved in trade logistics.
Mr Wangora said the agency is also working on an online trade information portal that would enable users to network in the region and help to cut the cost of doing business by eliminating lengthy clearance at the sea ports and border points.
“We have been working with TMEA to implement (as one of their pillars to improve trade facilitation on developing business plans) and harmonise trade processes. The online portal will mark all trade and put them on one platform where traders can easily access information and encourage trade,” he said.
Mr Wangora added that the agency targeted to have more public agencies on board the SWS.
User compliance
“We seek to address areas such as minimising time taken to complete standard import and export processes across the borders, increase user compliance with trade procedures, and decrease the time it takes to complete documentation.”
Its implementation started in 2012, it went live in October 2013, and was officially launched on May 2, 2014 by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
Since then 17 modules have been successfully implemented; three are under implementation.
Apart from clearance of trade transaction online, the government also plans to have all public procurement done online and linked to the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) which links ministries, agencies and county governments.
The procurement and payment module will co-ordinate accounting and budgeting system and lock out dishonest officials colluding with cartels in defrauding the government.
