Trading between communities living on the Kenya and Uganda border at Lokiriama hit a snag after officials from Kenya’s State Department of East Africa Community Integration said that the frontier was yet to be gazetted.
The border had been opened for trade after pastoralists from Turkana and Pokot communities of Kenya and Tepes, Jie and Karamajong of Uganda resolved to coexist peacefully, putting an end to cross border banditry attacks.
Judy Njeru, a senior assistant at the department, said that as long as the Lokiriama- Moroto border is not gazetted, any trade taking place was not legal.
She was speaking during a public forum on regulations governing cross border trade in Lodwar.
“The aspect of gazetting comes in when we are talking about matters trade,” she said pointing out that the crossing was still open for free movement of people.
However, the community has expressed concern that the move to stop trade may spark fresh cross-border banditry attacks.
Askah Mboya, a trader, said the border had greatly boosted peace between the pastoral communities by boosting income generation.
“If the border must be gazetted then it should be done immediately because hundreds of residents are relying on cross border trade,” she said.
The border also makes it easier and cheaper for traders to bring in gods from Uganda instead of through Kitale where bad roads contribute to higher cost of goods.
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