The State Department for East African Community (EAC) Affairs targets new reforms to restore the efficiency and competitiveness of the Northern Corridor by eliminating costly non-tariff barriers that are driving trade away to rival routes.
The plan includes slashing police roadblocks from over 20 to less than five, halving transit time between Mombasa and Malaba, strengthening security response, and fixing persistent ICT system hitches that have slowed cargo clearance. These reforms are set to result in annual savings of up to $54 million (Sh6.98 billion).
‘Every delay and inefficiency directly impacts our national revenue and the cost of goods for consumers across the region,” said Ms Caroline Karugu, Principal Secretary for the State Department for East African Community (EAC) Affairs.
The Northern Corridor, a network of 1,700 kilometres long interconnected highways, starts from the port of Mombasa and serves Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Trade along the route is hindered by various non-tariff barriers (NTBs), primarily involving transport inefficiencies, red tape, and regulatory inconsistencies.
Despite efforts to resolve these issues, transport-based NTBs remain prevalent, directly inflating costs and extending transit times.
Some of the barriers include multiple checkpoints, particularly in Kenya, which lead to prolonged delays and increased costs.
Others are highway crimes and theft of goods, poor road conditions in certain sections, and a lack of harmonised working hours at border posts, such as Malaba and Busia.
According to the State Department for EAC, the Northern Corridor remains the vital lifeline of regional trade, handling over 35.84 million tonnes of cargo annually and accounting for more than 80 percent of Kenya’s transit trade.
‘However, inefficiencies are driving cargo diversion to competing routes like Dar es Salaam, with Kenya losing five percent to eight percent of high-value transit cargo year-on-year,’ added Ms Karugu.
These reforms also signal a broader push to restore confidence among regional traders and logistics firms who rely on predictability and speed.
Industry players have long argued that uncertainty along the corridor, whether from delays, inconsistent enforcement, or system outages, raises the cost of doing business and weakens Kenya’s position as a regional logistics hub.
The planned reforms will be implemented in coordination with key agencies, including the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, and the National Police Service, with a focus on enforcement discipline, system reliability, and faster response to security incidents.