The long-awaited Suam One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on the Kenya–Uganda border is now complete and ready for commissioning, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has announced. The strategic facility, located in Trans Nzoia County, is expected to be officially opened in about a month by President William Ruto alongside Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
Speaking during an inspection tour, PS Omollo described the Suam OSBP as a transformative investment that will enhance trade, improve regional integration, and reinforce security along the border. He noted that the shared facility will significantly cut clearance times for cargo and travellers by allowing Kenyan and Ugandan officers to work jointly under one roof.
“Besides facilitating trade and movement, there are security issues that this border post will help us address—whether illicit trade, the movement of contraband, or other cross-border challenges,” Omollo said.
The Suam OSBP is part of a broader strategy to reduce congestion at the overstretched Malaba and Busia border posts, which currently handle the bulk of Kenya–Uganda traffic. Omollo expressed confidence that once fully commissioned, all relevant agencies—especially Customs—will operate at optimal capacity, unlocking the border’s full potential.
Although operational, the PS noted that the facility is yet to reach maximum efficiency pending the official commissioning. Complementary developments are already taking shape around the border post, including staff housing, a hospital, and a school—initiatives designed to support the broader socio-economic growth of Trans Nzoia County.
The project also incorporates major infrastructure improvements, notably the upgrading of the 45km Kitale–Endebess–Suam road, a key transport corridor linking Kenya and Uganda. These enhancements are expected to stimulate trade, open new economic routes, and strengthen Kenya’s position as a gateway to the East African Community.
As Kenya’s largest trading partner, Uganda remains central to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s regional economic agenda. With its completion, the Suam OSBP is set to become a vital trade and transport hub, easing movement, reducing delays, and deepening cross-border cooperation.
