Despite border closures and rows over testing of cargo truck drivers, East Africa Community governments have agreed to include imported motor vehicles as essential goods.
During a virtual meeting held last week on trade facilitation initiatives on the Northern Corridor in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, members resolved to include imported vehicles to essential goods in order to decongest the port and car depots in Mombasa.
Omae Nyarandi, executive secretary of the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Co-ordination Authority (NCTTCA) said the agreement to facilitate movement of imported motor vehicles will also save importers from paying hefty demurrage fees.
They must also declare the destination of the motor vehicles unit and they will be moving in batches of convoys controlled by the national police service and they shall only stop at designated areas along the Northern Corridor," said Mr Nyarandi.
According to the protocol, the drivers shall ensure they abide by the April 20 EAC administrative guidelines to facilitate movement of goods and services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
