Busia: Agents demand Oil Tankers' parking Yard

By Renson Buluma

Busia Municipal Council has blamed the police for the losses it has incurred in the last three days. The council accused the police of watching as its workers were barred from collecting revenue from oil tankers.

Busia Town Treasurer Slyvance Obondo said police failed to intervene when a group of clearing and forwarding agents prevented council workers from doing their job.

The agents were demanding the council first builds a parking yard for the tankers before collecting any revenue.

The council lost thousands of shillings in revenue following a two-day protest by the clearing agents at the border point.

"The council has lost thousands in revenue collection because of lack of support from the police," said Obondo.

However, Busia OCPD Erastus Muthamia dismissed the allegations saying the police have never been part of the council’s law enforcement team.

"That is not our work. The council has its own enforcement officers,’ said Muthamia adding that police are always willing to come in whenever law and order is broken.

The council’s main source of revenue is derived from the tankers and other heavy duty vehicles transporting goods to the neighbouring countries.

Since Tuesday when an oil tanker burst into flames killing nine people, residents of Busia, town traders and clearing and forwarding agents have been protesting against the presence of tankers parked along the main street.

"These parked oil tankers are a disaster in waiting and we cannot allow their presence," said Innocent Masiga, the secretary of Kenya International Forwarding and Warehousing Association Busia Branch.

Busia Mayor Imelda Obwana however said the council has set aside an alternative parking, which will be in use beginning Monday.