SMUGGLING OF GOODS IN EAST AFRICA KILLING REVENUE AUTHORITIES

BY- BENJAMIN  OCHIENG (photo above)

February 4th, 2009

The trade which smuggled goods are sneaked to Uganda, Tanzania Congo or into Kenya is to blame by  the East African Community EAC  because goods evade income tax points to make booming business.

In Busia Kenya, milk, maize flour, second hand clothes “mitumba”, kerosene ,sugar, wheatflour and cooking fat are some of Kenyan products that frequent to Uganda in turns.

The heavily guarded check points with regular, general service unit GSU, and administration police AP'S have never stumbled the trade in Kenya history.

Their work is to pocket bribes and accept goods into and outside countries denying KRA, & URA daily collection.

Mayenje trading centre in Busia is a hot spot centre for the smuggling trade on the spot .Goods from Uganda such as dry cells, batteries, fish, Ugandanclothes, and electonics likeTVs, cameras,radios and vehicle spare parts meet Kenyan buyers at strategic places waiting at the ready to take untaxed goods.

Smuggle specialist pose readily within to deal out transit goods using  unauthorised roots well known to the locals as‘panya roots’ where income taxmen are not stationed ,on commission basis.

Lake-Victoria that stretches to Uganda and Tanzania from Kenyan - Gulf   as well path smuggled commodities.

Boats from Uganda and Tanzania dock at night at  Usenge, Port-Victoria, Budalang’i, Siaya and Bondo shores with loaded goods to waiting traders ,stockists who then move to distribute and retail .

Sacks purportedly with Tilapia fish or charcoal are rowed and on reaching destined location, Sativa – cannabis, radios, concealed  weapons and to mention just a few goods are offloaded, sold, after dodging taxmen and police traps.

Dunga beach in Kisumu and Usenge in Bondo are timebombs set to explode. Well know suspects frequently land in police traps but are set free shortly after exchanging hands.

Smuggling roots in tax evading  trade would be incomplete without Chepkube market in Malaba town.

The reknown centre in East Africa broke headlines in 1970’s when arms from Uganda were sold in the open. Kakuma, Daadab, Kapenguria and West Pokot areas are worstly rocked and have spread  security threat to the neighbours in both Uganda and Kenyan Borders.

That is why criminal activities in Mt. Elgon, Bungoma, Kitale and Busia frequent with AK 47 assault riffles.

Note brandishing goons ‘money change’ pose strategically targeting cross-overs to exchange currency as banks that have the legality to provide the services starve.

They never study market rate turning selves to fraudsters to pocket easy cash from unsuspecting people and deny taxman his dues.

Despite the revival of EAC, Parliamentarians from members states, Ministries of trade have never provided everlasting solutions to the menace. Namanga, Sirare and Lunga Lunga are roots for  smuggled items in kenya and Tanzania.

Kenyas EAC Minister Amason Kingi expressed his concern and and said measures will be taken to eradicate the trade."We have a common bond that gorverns our trade and this is a collective responsibility.Every member state must take action now."Said kingi...

                                                             ENDS