Why illegal trade at Isebania border is thriving despite constant surveillance

**Busy Isebania border town in Kuria west sub-County.** [Caleb Kingwara, Standard]

For a very long time, illegal trade at the Isebania border has been a menace and a threat to the economy as smugglers continue to device new ways to sneak goods into the country.

The trade has continued to thrive despite the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) imposing high fines and increasing surveillance at the border.

When The Standard visited the Isebania border town last week, smugglers were busy sneaking goods through an illegal route a few metres away.

Three sources who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that the trade has been thriving.

The Standard discovered that goods were being passed at the three illegal points – Nyamaharaga, Mwisango and Mali Ngumu – using motorcycles and bicycles.

“There is no place you will pass without finding the police. All these three entry points have police manning the areas," a source who sought anonymity said.

The sources revealed how they have been smuggling bananas and rice through the porous border in small lots for fear of bumping into KRA’s surveillance officers along the way.

They claimed the police are the least of their worries. Their only fear is being caught by the KRA surveillance team which is commonly referred to as ‘custom’.

When it comes to smuggling goods, they pass Migori and Kisii with their well-loaded goods at around 1am and 2am when KRA surveillance teams are not available.

Janet Mokua, a trader who sells rice, told The Standard that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kenya-Tanzania border was closed and has not been reopened hence leaving them with no option other than to smuggle their goods through the porous border.

Joseph Kamau, who owns a wholesale shop normally gets his rice through the right channels. But since the border was closed, he has not been able to get supplies from Tanzania.

His customers cherish his rice for its low price and good quality but are left disappointed each time they visit his shop and are not able find it.

Some have started avoiding his shop knowing that he does not have the rice which goes at Sh450 per 5kg bag.

“I used to bring a lot of rice from Tanzania to my shop. But now I cannot get it because the border is still closed. You cannot get rice right now. I only have Kenyan rice but they won’t buy it because they say it is expensive,” Kamau says.

According to Kamau, his rice customers have shifted to those smuggling the commodity and this has made him lose business.

Peninah Marwa, who owns a shop at the border, says she has been recording losses due to unfair trade, noting she gets soft drinks from Tanzania which are taxed in Kenya yet her fellow traders pass the same through illegal entry points and sell them at cheaper prices.

She sells a bottle of energy drink at Sh50 but those who pass it to Kenya illegally can hawk the same for as low as Sh30.

“I can stay with soft drink stock for more than two months and sometimes I’m forced to sell at a lower price,” Ms Marwa said.

Mary Auma who sells rice in Migori also cited unfair trade as smugglers hawk similar produce at a cheaper price.
Traders who sneak their untaxed goods through the porous border revealed that they bribe the police to pass freely to their destinations, which include Migori and Kisii which are the main markets for smuggled goods.

Traders doing genuine business blamed the closure of the border for the increase of illegal trade which they said was hurting them economically.

They accused the police manning the porous borders of being lax in the fight against illegal trade.

However, Kuria West OCPD Clet Kimaiyo said he had not received any reports on officers soliciting money from traders smuggling goods.

“I have not had any report against my officers at the porous border points,” said Mr Kimaiyo, adding that the border was still closed and movement was not allowed except for essential goods.

But he admitted that it was hard to notice if a motorcycle rider was smuggling illegal goods "when they carry a single bag or small loads.”

KRA’s Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communication Grace Wandera (above) admitted that there were traders who attempt to smuggle illegal goods such as cattle, dagaa, soft drinks, sugar, rice, maize and alcoholic drinks.
Ms Wandera said that such cases are dealt with in accordance with the law.

“All traders who pass through the Isebania border point are expected to pay the rightful taxes in accordance to the customs laws and procedures,” Wandera said, denying that the border was closed.

In August, last year, KRA revealed that it recovered Sh8.3 million in the seizure of illegal goods which included beers, sodas, juices, ethanol, cows and goats, activated carbon and alcoholic drinks from Burundi and Congo.