Page 61 - MANDERA-COUNTY- THE 2019 MAGAZINE

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Kenya, Somalia form joint commission

hen the once vibrant Mandera-
Beled Hawo border point was
Wshut down by the government in
2014, little did the residents of the con-
joined towns know that the decision would
have huge ramifications for their liveli-
hoods.
Since the closure, the movement of both
people and goods has been restricted
and legitimate businesses negatively im-
pacted.
This situation has led to an increase in the
cost of basic commodities and reduced
revenue earnings, specially for Mandera
County.
All that is, however, set to change after
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary
Monica Juma and her Somali counterpart
Ahmed Awad met on 29 January 2019 in
Mandera and adopted a policy framework
aimed at improving and promoting cross- CS Foreign Affairs Dr Monica Juma and her Somalia counterpart Ahmed Isse Awad after signing
border trade. an agreement to deepen trade, cross-border and security relations between the two neighbouring
Hopes are high as Mandera residents countries
are looking forward to the good old days strengthen Mandera's economy, reducing the The removal of procedural, policy and physical
when hundreds of tons of goods crossed county's poverty levels. constraints at the Mandera border will also help
the border to Somalia, and Mandera There is a huge potential in trade and investments boost peaceful coexistence between the neigh-
County Council used to give loans to the in both Mandera County and Somalia and the bouring communities, and thus critically contrib-
national government. agreement will certainly enhance trade. ute to promoting peace and stability.
In an communique released by the two Traders in the county would see more benefits
governments, both parties agreed to al- of the agreement due to Mandera's strategic lo- In conclusion, removing obstacles to trade be-
low legitimate businesses and traders to cation. They will now be able to do more cross- tween Mandera and Somalia as agreed between
transact freely. border business, faster and at less cost with their the two governments would be particularly benefi-
The agreement touched on the promotion counterparts in Somalia. cial to the poor, as they are the ones who conduct
of cross-border trade, security, cultural More importantly, an increased cross-border most of the small-scale, cross-border commerce
and socio-economic matters, among oth- trade between Mandera County and Somalia will that happens.
ers. certainly be a factor in alleviating poverty across The potential benefits that would accrue from that
The deal will certainly go a long way in the county. will include poverty reduction, job creation, food
promoting Mandera County's economic Such trade will also support livelihoods and lead security, more tax revenues for both Kenya and
and trade prosperity. to the creation of employment opportunities, in- Somalia and enhanced cooperation between the
It will also lead to greater cooperation be- cluding for the county's disadvantaged and mar- two countries.
tween cross-border communities by en- ginalised members of the society.
hancing trade ties and more importantly
Evolution of Mandera air travel TAKING TO THE AIR

Initially there used to be daily flights from Nai- 1989 | One daily flight ferrying miraa to
robi but it was meant for transporting miraa Mandera introduced
from Wilson Airport to Mandera and individu- 1999 |Flights ferrying miraa increased to two
als wishing to travel to the county had to seek 2007 |First passenger flight introduced ferrying
space in the light planes crammed with miraa. maximum 19 passengers
2009 |30-seater passenger plane introduced
2013 |After devolution 5 passenger planes
According to Shillow Abukar Hassan who was
the sole agent of flights to Mandera, carrying compete for border town transport
2017 |Number stabilizes to two 60-seater
passengers was not a profitable business daily flight
then for aircraft. It was the transportation of
miraa that mattered.
“A passenger had to wait until all the miraa At the peak of competition, Shillow says there
was loaded in the aircraft and by the grace were five passenger airplane flights to Mandera
of God if there was any space left we would daily, but it has whittled down and there are
Shillow Abukar Hassan, squeeze one to a maximum of two passen- currently only two daily flights plying the route.
Proprietor, Shillow Travel Agency gers,” he recalls. He explains that before the commencement of
commercial passenger flights, travelling to and
Failure by the Kenya National Highway Authority However the promulgation of the Constitution from the county was a harrowing experience
(KeNHA) and rampant insecurity occasioned by the and the establishment of the County Govern- for the locals as the main roads from Mandera
Al-shabaab terror attacks has made travelling from ment has seen Mandera record an increase through Garissa and Moyale were in deplorable
Nairobi to Mandera County a nightmare for residents in the number of flights ferrying passengers to condition and attacks by Al-Shabaab had wors-
and individuals wishing to visit the county. the border town. ened the situation.