Kenya is losing billions in revenue at its Mandera border with Ethiopia and Somalia due to closures on one side and unregulated, porous crossings on the other.
For years, the borders with Ethiopia at Suftu and Rhamu have remained open and active, facilitating informal and unregulated movement of people and goods via River Daua on rafts. There are no official entry points or customs offices, while the border with Somalia has been closed for 16 years.
The Kenya-Somalia border point 1 is fully equipped with an official entryway, a border patrol police post, and immigration offices but has been closed since the Mwai Kibaki administration, following the Kenya Defence Force’s operations in Somalia. The militant group Al Shabaab has exploited this border for cross-border attacks, prompting its closure.
As a result, access to Somalia’s Bula Hawa town is limited and heavily monitored compared to the Ethiopian border. However, informal trade routes still allow for the movement of consumables into Kenya.
Local leaders in Mandera argue that the unmanned and closed borders are causing significant revenue losses for both the national government and the devolved administration, especially as the country seeks to increase revenue to address budget deficits.
Security officials acknowledge the illegality of these crossings but recognize their necessity, as residents in Mandera rely on Somali imports for basic food supplies. Items such as sugar, rice, powdered milk, and pasta come from Bula Hawa, while traders import maize flour, tea leaves, and plastics from Kenya.
Adan Hamud, the Mandera trade executive, emphasized that reopening the border could benefit the country, despite initial challenges. “In the short term, it might disadvantage Mandera residents due to increased costs, but legitimizing trade would ultimately boost the county’s revenue generation,” he noted.
The potential revenue loss is substantial when considering the volume of goods exchanged across River Daua and into Bula Hawa.
Recently, a multi-agency team led by Macharia Chege, the KRA deputy commissioner for customs and border management, visited the county to meet with local leaders and assess the feasibility of establishing offices at both the Somalia and Ethiopian borders.
In July, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki indicated that plans to reopen the border points with Somalia were underway but had been delayed due to security concerns. He stated, “We are working towards reopening our border points in Mandera, Liboi, Kiunga, and other areas, but security disruptions have postponed this process.”
Mandera’s deputy county commissioner, Patrick Meso, confirmed the existence of illicit trade but at a minimal level, primarily for basic foodstuffs during droughts. “We cannot let our people die of hunger due to border closures. We allow minimal movements to secure essential supplies,” he explained.
Meso expressed optimism that the re-opening process might soon commence, given the recent multi-agency assessment. “Mandera is a crucial county. The visit from assessing teams indicates goodwill from the higher offices,” he added.
