The OSBP brings together under one roof, all the Government agencies performing border crossing controls procedures,

doing away with need for motorized traffic and persons to undergo clearance twice at both sides of the border.

This arrangement is expected to expedite movement, release and clearance of goods and persons across borders, by streamlining border procedures, automation of the border processes and simplification of trade documents, thus contributing to a reduction in transport cost, whilst increasing volumes of transshipment cargo through the Central Corridor.

The Busia OSBP is one of the 15 border posts in the EAC that are being converted from ?two-stop? border posts into OSBPs. 7 of these border Posts namely: Malaba, Busia, Isebania, Namanga, Taveta, Lunga Lunga and Moyale lie on the Kenyan Border, with Busia handling the largest number of informal cross border traders in the EAC.

Since its set up, KRA?s revenue collection has grown by over 45 per cent, cargo clearing time has reduced from the initial eight (8) hours to less than one (1) hour, while passenger traffic clearance has reduced from one hour to between two and three minutes. In a month, over 30,000 people and more than 10,000 trucks are cleared at the station.

The OSBP is expected to further boost revenue collection, improve security, as well as improve resource utilization through cross-border cooperation.

Construction of the facility was facilitated by TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) with funding from UK Department of International Development (DFID) and the Global Affairs, Canada at a total cost of $ 12M.

Commissioning of the OSBP is a key milestone in reduction of barriers to trade and improving business competitiveness in the East African Community.