KRA receives donation of surveillance equipment from Japanese government –
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) received a donation of border control and surveillance equipment from the Government of Japan.
The handover ceremony for equipment to support trade facilitation and supply chain security was held at KRA headquarters on Friday.
Equipment received included x-ray baggage scanners, patrollers, patrol vehicles, raman spectrometers and field test kits purchased by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) .
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The Japanese government is expanding its support to KRA through a grant aid project titled “Capacity Building for Trade Facilitation and Border Control in East Africa”. The grant worth $ 378,000 covers five East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the World Customs Organization is providing customs capacity development while border control equipment was purchased by UNOPS in partnership with JICA.
The handover ceremony was attended by KRA Commissioner for Business Support Service Dr David Kinuu, Ambassador of Japan HE Horie Ryoichi, Chief Representative of JICA Kenya Office , Mr. IWAMA Hajime, and the Program Manager of the UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Kenya, Ms. Sonja Varga.
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“The equipment will improve the operations of the authority’s customs and border control department. These tools will improve border security and enhance customer service at points of entry due to their non-intrusive nature ”. Dr Kinuu said acknowledging receipt of the equipment.
The equipment is expected to be installed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Lake Victoria Seaport, Nairobi Inland Container Depot (ICDN), Kilindini Port and other critical border points.
Dr Kinuu thanked JICA, UNOPS and the Government of Japan for their support in strengthening customs and tax administration in Kenya. He said equipment such as the baggage scanner would help with the physical verification of passenger baggage at JKIA.
“Non-intrusive baggage scanning technology will ensure that our customers are served more efficiently and quickly,” said the Commissioner General.
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Japanese Ambassador to Kenya HE Horie Ryoichi said the Japanese government is committed to supporting improving customs capacity in East Africa and Africa as a whole.
The tax authorities of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have called on the government of Japan to provide financial assistance and equipment to support trade facilitation and border control in 2019.
The equipment will be used in the detection of dangerous or contraband items in baggage, packages and cargo. It will also be used to monitor 14 precursor chemicals among other components used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
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