President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered that all containers at Embakasi Inland Depot be released.
Uhuru gives new orders to save traders
President Uhuru Kenyatta giving a speech
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On Monday morning the Head of State made an impromptu stop at the depot where he asked to have the containers released in 2-3 weeks.
He further directed that in future the containers should be cleared within 4 days.
The President ordered for the vetting of consolidators at the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi to weed out tax cheats.
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President Kenyatta during the impromptu visit to the Embakasi ICD
Pulse Live Kenya
Complaints by traders
His visit come amid complaints by traders whose goods have been confiscated. CS Matiang’i, PS Kibicho and heads of the multi-agency task force, accompanied him.
A letter addressed to President Uhuru Kenyatta has been doing rounds in social media allegedly from a trader from Nyamakima area of Nairobi where he explains how his business has deteriorated.
Traders have tried to raise attention to their plight in various parts of downtown Nairobi with some complaining of various issues that have affected their businesses and claiming that the government has been ignoring their concerns.
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Businesses affected
Nyamakima Business people expressed concern over the new Importation laws
Pulse Live Kenya
Importers and Small Traders Association (ISTA) said they trace their problems to the demonstrations that rocked the capital during the last General elections.
They further pointed out that business was affected and the traders could not afford to clear the goods at the port, therefore, attracting huge penalties.
Among the new requirements by the government was that every trader must import their own container and of similar goods to improve traceability of those who import fake goods.
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However, ISTA pointed out that many of their traders cannot afford to import full containers on their own and that's why they consolidate goods and put them in one container.
