Leaders call for revival of Voi-Taveta railway to boost Coast-Dar trade

Kenya: Taita-Taveta County leaders want the Government to revive the Voi-Taveta railway line to boost trade between the Coast region and Tanzania.

County Executive in charge of Public Works and Infrastructure Alexander Mwangeka said despite the huge business potential at the border town of Taveta and Tanzania, lack of reliable and affordable transport services was still a major business hiccup.

“As the Government finalises plans to construct the Standard Gauge Railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi, they should be thinking about reviving the Voi-Taveta railway line which will come in handy in transporting bulk merchandise such as foodstuffs from Taveta town,” said Mr Mwangeka.

He was speaking at the Dawson Mwanyumba Stadium in Wundanyi yesterday, during the commissioning of four graders worth Sh60 million. Mwangeka pointed out that traders were incurring huge costs transporting goods using lorries from Taveta due to the poor state of the Voi-Taveta road.

Mwageka noted that despite the county government’s desire to improve the road network to provide a link between the two trade zones, road repair and construction had not been devolved, putting county governments in a dilemma.

Viable business

Kenya Railways Corporation terminated train services between Voi and Taveta six year ago over what it termed as lack of viable business between the two towns.

Meanwhile, members of the Voi business community in Taita-Taveta County are up in arms over the new rates in the recently published County Finance Bill 2014-2015, which increased licence fees by up to 300 per cent.

Speaking during a meeting at Dan Mwazo Hall in Voi, where they petitioned the county government to lower the rates, traders led by Voi MP Johnes Mlolwa said the revised rates will impoverish the small-scale traders.

“We are asking the county government to put on hold the new rates for a month so that the issues traders have petitioned are addressed,” said Mr Mlolwa.

Chair lady of the Voi Upper Market Committee Isabella Sato lamented that they were paying offloading charges for merchandise brought to Voi Market despite the area lacking a designated parking bay. The Taita-Taveta County Executive in charge of Finance Flora Mtuweta was at pains to justify the new rates in the pending Finance Bill.