Nairobi: Kenya has announced major reforms aimed at revitalizing trade along the Northern Corridor by eliminating persistent Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) that have hampered the 930-kilometre long route. Speaking during the Sensitisation Forum on the Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) along the Kenyan section of the Northern Corridor Transit Route at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong, Principal Secretary (PS) for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Dr. Caroline W. Karugu, said the country is incurring losses due to inefficiencies along the corridor.
According to Kenya News Agency, the move follows concerns showing that the country is losing competitiveness in regional trade. Dr. Karugu explained that the new reforms are informed by findings from a December 2025 evaluation exercise, which revealed very slow cargo processing and movement, resulting in high costs of doing business with EAC partner states. The corridor is a vital lifeline of regional trade, handling over 35.84 million metric tonnes of cargo annually and accounting for more than 80 percent of Kenya’s transit trade.
The inefficiencies are driving cargo diversion to competing routes such as Dar-es-Salaam, with Kenya losing about five percent to eight percent of high-value transit cargo year-on-year. ‘Data shows that truck owners and business people are leaving the Port of Mombasa and opting to use the Port of Dar-es-Salaam due to fewer non-tariff barriers along the Central Corridor,’ Dr. Karugu revealed. She highlighted an excessive number of police roadblocks along the corridor, far above the regional target of fewer than five, increasing transit time significantly.
Currently, there are 22 to 27 active police roadblocks along the Corridor, and transit time between Mombasa and Malaba has increased to 76-80 hours, nearly doubling the expected 36-48 hours. Additionally, under-resourcing of the Northern Corridor Transit Patrol Unit (NCTPU) has contributed to delays in responding to security alerts. System lapses, such as system downtime occurring two to eight times per month, have led to data transmission delays of up to one week, resulting in significant penalties.
These inefficiencies have considerably increased logistics costs and reduced the reliability of the Corridor. The State Department for EAC Affairs, in partnership with the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, and the National Police Service, among other key players, resolved to reduce roadblocks to at least five, minimizing time wastage at checkpoints. The new reforms aim to maintain standard transit times between 36 and 48 hours along the Corridor, improve security response times to under one hour, and stabilize ICT systems to eliminate delays.
The implementation of the reforms aligns with directives issued by East African Heads of State, mandating the elimination of NTBs by June 30, 2026. Dr. Karugu emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation. Currently, the Malaba OSBP processes approximately 2,000 trucks daily, while the Busia OSBP handles about 1,500 trucks daily.
Dr. Karugu reiterated that the East African Community remains Kenya’s largest trading partner, with the country recording Sh321.6 billion in trade within the bloc last year. Kenya traded Sh126 billion with Uganda and approximately Sh65 billion with Tanzania, underscoring the region’s central role in external trade. The Northern Corridor handles more than 80 percent of Kenya’s transit cargo and serves as a critical gateway for landlocked countries in the region.
Despite its strategic importance, Kenya faces increased competition from the Central Corridor through the Port of Dar-es-Salaam. Dr. Karugu highlighted the financial burden to transporters, noting that ‘every minute of delay is equivalent to one dollar loss’, increasing the cost of doing business and reducing government revenue. She stressed the corridor’s impact on jobs, regional integration, and consumer welfare.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, noted that security officers are key actors in minimizing delays caused by police checks without compromising security. The new reforms are projected to deliver significant economic gains by reducing transit delays by 50 percent, saving between $288 and $360 per trip for transporters. Implementation will ensure annual national savings of $43 million to $54 million through reduced inefficiencies. The State Department will convene follow-up meetings regularly to review the progress of all responsible agencies.
