RATIN

Kenya wants Ugandan traders paid

Posted on November, 10, 2016 at 10:13 am


Kampala. Kenya’s vice president William Ruto has called for an emergence meeting to sort, once and for all, the post-election violence property loss Ugandan and Rwandan traders experienced.
While meeting a delegation of regional private sector under their umbrella organisation, the East African Business Council (EABC) in Nairobi last week, Mr Ruto directed cabinet secretary for Finance, Mr Henry Rotich, to convene a meeting as soon as possible with EABC key players, to solve the issue.
 
In a communication issued to Daily Monitor, Mr Ruto said: “The meeting should also be attended by the internal security cabinet secretary, Maj Gen Joseph Ole Nkaissery, Attorney General and other relevant officials to conclude this matter.”
At least 16 Ugandan and Rwandan traders who saw their trucks and goods destroyed along the Northern Corridor (Nairobi-Eldoret-Kampala Highway), worth $47 million (Shs158 billion) have been suffering in silence after their eight-year efforts to get their compensation through diplomatic channels, yielded nothing.
 
EABC chief executive officer, Ms Lilian Awinja, said: “We would like to know the status of the compensation of the Ugandan and Rwandese investors who lost property and goods worth $47, 557 081 as a result of the 2007/8 post-election violence following the Kenyan general election.” 
Reacting to this development, Kampala City Traders Association chairman Everest Kayondo, said it was good news but they will not be joyous until results are seen.
“This matter has been long overdue, promises were made by the former leaders of Kenya but nothing was done. With the new development, its good news but we cannot be over joyous until payment is effected,” Mr Kayondo said.
 
The EABC team also stressed the importance for Kenya to enhance peace and security along the Northern Corridor, as a major transit route.
Specifically, EABC requested Kenya to guarantee the regional business community that it will enhance peace and security of property for businesses established and transiting through Kenya before, during and after the 2017 general election in Kenya.
Ms Awinja also guaranteed security to the business community in the 2017 Kenya general elections.
 
Source: Daily Monitor