PS Omollo: Suam One Stop Border Post in Trans Nzoia ready for commissioning

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo arrives at the Kenya - Uganda Suam One Stop Border Post in Trans Nzoia to assess its status ahead of official commissioning

The long-awaited Kenya–Uganda Suam One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Trans Nzoia County is now complete and ready for commissioning, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has confirmed.

Speaking on Wednesday after inspecting the facility, Omollo said President William Ruto is expected to commission the project in about a month, alongside his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni.

“The facility is ready for commissioning. We expect President William Ruto, together with his counterpart from the East African Community, to commission it,” Omollo said.

He emphasised that the OSBP will play a central role in boosting trade and strengthening regional integration while also addressing key security concerns linked to cross-border movement.

“Besides facilitating trade and movement, there are issues around security that this border post will help us address—whether in terms of illicit trade, the movement of contraband, or other security challenges,” he noted.

The PS highlighted that the Suam OSBP is part of a broader strategy to ease congestion at the heavily used Malaba and Busia border posts.

“Part of the reason we are developing this border post is to help decongest the Malaba and Busia borders in terms of traffic and the movement of people, goods, and services. It is therefore a very strategic point of entry and exit for us as a country and for the East African Community,” he said.

Although the Suam border facility is currently operational, Omollo revealed that it has not yet reached full capacity. He expressed optimism that once commissioned, all relevant agencies—led by Customs—will operate at optimal levels.

The Suam OSBP is envisioned not only as a trade and transport hub but also as a catalyst for broader socio-economic development in Trans Nzoia County.

According to the PS, several complementary projects are underway, including housing units for border staff, a hospital, and a school.

“It will be a comprehensive piece of development that not only sustains trade but also supports the livelihoods of residents of Trans Nzoia County,” Omollo said. 

The Suam OSBP is a joint Kenya–Uganda initiative aimed at streamlining border processes by enabling officers from both countries to work within shared facilities.

This co-location drastically reduces clearance times for people and goods, cutting bureaucratic delays that have long hampered cross-border trade.

The project also features significant road upgrades, notably the 45km Kitale–Endebess–Suam road, enhancing local and regional transport efficiency.

It forms a key component of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Uganda, Kenya’s single largest trading partner.

With its completion, the Suam One Stop Border Post is expected to open up new trade corridors, ease movement across the region, and reinforce Kenya’s role in driving East Africa’s economic integration.