Northeastern Kenya MPs have intensified calls for the reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border, highlighting the region’s economic reliance on cross-border trade. Speaking in Garissa on Monday, Fafi MP Salah Yakub urged President William Ruto to take decisive action, emphasizing that towns like Garissa are just 40 kilometres from the frontier and 50 kilometres from Kismayu port.
“We are the second-largest economy, but nobody comes back to help us. A town like Garissa depends on that border. We are asking the President to direct the reopening so that we can freely trade,” Yakub said.
The Kenya–Somalia border has been officially closed since October 2011 following a surge in Al-Shabaab attacks. While aimed at enhancing security, the closure disrupted trade and movement for thousands of residents, affecting businesses in Garissa, Mandera, and surrounding towns.
In May 2024, Kenya and Somalia agreed on a phased reopening of three border points, beginning with Mandera, followed by Garissa and Lamu. However, escalating attacks, including the June 2024 killings of eight police officers in Garissa and five civilians in Lamu, forced authorities to slow down the plan, leaving local communities in limbo.
Despite informal trade dominating the frontier, official figures indicate that Kenya exported goods worth approximately USD 130 million (Ksh16.8 billion) to Somalia in 2024, while imports stood at just over USD 4 million (Ksh517 million). MPs argue that reopening the border could significantly boost the region’s economy.
On a related issue, MPs also raised concerns over delays in issuing national identity cards despite President Ruto’s executive order earlier this year that waived vetting requirements for Northeastern residents. Tarbaj MP Ibrahim Saney revealed that processed IDs remain in Nairobi, accusing officials of undermining the President’s directive.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula assured residents that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen will be summoned to Parliament next week to explain the persistent delays in ID issuance.
Residents of Northeastern Kenya now await both the reopening of the border and timely access to identification cards, essential for trade, travel, and government services.
