Japan and UNOPS donate border control equipment to KRA

Japan has donated border control and surveillance equipment to KRA to enhance trade facilitation and supply chain security.

The equipment that included X-ray baggage scanners, patrol boats, patrol vehicles, raman spectrometers, and field test kits were procured by the UN Office for Project Services and handed over on Thursday in Nairobi.

They will be used to detect dangerous or contraband items in luggages, parcels and/or cargo as well as support in monitoring and detection of the 14 precursor chemicals and other components used to manufacture IEDs.

The equipment will be installed in various points of entry such as JKIA, Lake Victoria Sea Port, Inland Container Depot Nairobi, Kilindini Port and other critical border points.

KRA Commissioner for Corporate Support Services David Kinuu said the donation will enhance KRA Customs and Border Control department's operations, improve border security and boost customer service at the ports of entry due to their non-intrusive nature.

“The non-intrusive baggage scanning technology will ensure our customers are served more efficiently and expeditiously,” Kinuu said, noting that the baggage scanner will significantly reduce physical verification of passenger baggage at JKIA.

The donation comes at at time KRA has intensified crackdown on counterfeits.

For instance, according to KRA Western Region coordinator Pamela Ahago, they have impounded smuggled and counterfeit goods worth Sh 16 million in the vast Nyanza and Western Region, since March this year.

On September 29, two suspects were charged before Milimani law court principal magistrate Bernard Ochoi for being in possession of excisable goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps with a revenue implication of Sh1.4 million. 

Francis Mbarire Hungi, the driver, and his assistant, Benson Mwangi Mburu, were found with 16,560 bottles of 2500ml Venice vodka affixed with counterfeit excise stamps along the Bomet-Narok Highway on  September 21.

In June KRA said  it had seized goods worth more than Sh4 billion in six months as the multi-agency team set up by President Uhuru Kenyatta stepped up raids, arrests, and destruction of illicit goods.

Most of the goods impounded included assorted goods (28.47 per cent), aircraft parts (18.12 per cent), agricultural products (16.56 per cent), motorcycles, and motor vehicle parts (7.20 per cent), and metallic products (4.58 per cent).

Japan Ambassador Horie Ryoichi said his government, through JICA, has been working with Kenya to strengthen its customs administration for 15 years, including supporting operations of the One Stop Border Post.

“I assure you that the government of Japan will continue in its commitment to support the improvement of customs capacity not only in East Africa but also throughout Africa,” Ambassador Horie said.

Japan has supported KRA under a grant aid project “Enhancing Trade Facilitation and Border Control Capacity in East Africa” with more than Sh8 million covering Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

JICA Kenya chief representative Iwama Hajime and UNOPS Kenya MultiCountry Office head of Programme Sonja Varga also attended the handover ceremony in Nairobi.

Iwama said the equipment will enhance the capacity of customs administrations on trade facilitation and supply chain of security around the borders, while Varga noted the tools would help authorities ensure the safety of passengers and professionals working at the airport.

The EAC revenue authorities had in 2019 sought Japan’s help by providing grant assistance on trade facilitation and border control equipment and further promote economic development in the region.