The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, has reiterated his commitment to support KRA to enable it realise its objectives.  He said KRA’s efforts are central to achieving the government’s development agenda. ‘I hope to make working conditions for KRA even better’ he added. The Minister noted the good working relationship the Ministry enjoys with KRA in tackling and resolving issues of mutual interest. He made these remarks at his Treasury building office while receiving the World Customs Organisation Secretary General Mr. Kurio Mikuriya.  He was accompanied by the KRA Commissioner General M. G. Waweru, the Economic Secretary Dr. Geoffrey Mwau, the Commissioner of  Customs Mrs. Wambui Namu, the WCO Director of the Regional Capacity Building Centre Mr. Kennedy Bisonga and the Ag. Senior Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communication Mr. Kennedy Onyonyi.

Hon. Uhuru reiterated the commitment of the government to make Kenya the example for customs administration in the region.  He emphasised the Government’s commitment to ratification of the Revised Kyoto Convention. ‘After we are done with the budget cycle, the next priority will be ratification of the Kyoto Convention whose memorandum is currently before the Cabinet, ’ he added.  The Convention aims at simplifying and standardising customs procedures as a means of trade facilitation

The Secretary General noted that the visit to Kenya is a milestone as it is his first overseas visit since he was elected to the position in June 2008.  He said he will give priority to commerce, capacity building and excellence supported by research.  He reiterated his commitment to make Africa the centre of WCO leadership.  He said he will strike a balance between revenue collection and trade facilitation, but concentrate more on revenue enhancement over the next six months.  This will benefit customs administrations in the developing countries which still rely substantially on customs revenue.  He appreciated the political will and technical support Kenya customs has been receiving from the government and promised to supplement these efforts by mobilising other development partners to join in.

Mr. Mikuriya emphasised the need to use information technology and risk management techniques to facilitate trade as these factors are at the core of the Kyoto Convention.  ‘This will help fight corruption by minimising interaction between traders and customs officers’ he added.

Commenting on import trade for developing countries, Mr. Mikuriya said the market access for African Countries can be enhanced by efficiency in cross boarder movement.  This, he said, necessitated the need to streamline procedures by customs and other boarder agencies.  To this end he commended the establishment of ‘single window’ which will ensure that all agencies do risk assessment and respond to customer needs promptly and conveniently.

In his remarks, the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority Mr. M. G. Waweru expressed appreciation for support the Authority has so far received from WCO.  Among the areas           WCO has supported include:  setting up of headquarters for Regional Capacity Building Centre, Regional Intelligence Liaison Office and WCO Regional Customs Training Centre.  He thanked WCO for facilitating acquisition of two speed boats to enhance surveillance in Lake Victoria.  He said that unlike in developed countries where customs accounts for only 2% of total revenue, in the developing countries the contrary applies. This he added, calls for enhancement of customs capacity to undertake its mandate.

Earlier the Commissioner General accompanied Mr. Mikuriya to Mombasa where he opened a WCO regional workshop on Environmental Boarder Protection.