Tanzania to respect Kenya's JKIA vehicle ban

East African Cooperation Minister Harrison Mwakyembe.

THE government has said it will respect the decision by Kenya to ban Tanzania-registered tourist vans from accessing the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi as it mulls steps to take to reduce inconveniences for tourists destined for Tanzania.

Likewise, the government will not ban vehicles from any member of East African Community (EAC) or any other country from accessing the country’s airports and airstrips to pick or drop tourists destined for those countries.

East African Cooperation Minister Harrison Mwakyembe told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that Tanzania will take steps to inform all tourists and other foreign visitors interested in visiting the country’s many attractions to use other airports than Kenyan to avoid any inconveniences.

Dr Mwakyembe said the government “has taken that decision to protect the ‘cordial relations that exist between Kenya and Tanzania’’.

He added that the government is saddened by the decision taken by Kenya because it does not build on the existing good relations; neither does it conform to the agreement that established the EAC, whose foundation is based on use of dialogue to arrive at long lasting solutions.

“Despite the fact that the Kenyan government’s decision is outside the 1985 bilateral agreement by viewing airports as part of tourist attraction sites, the government of Tanzania will respect that decision,” he added.

The minister pointed out that the 30-year old bilateral agreement entered by the two countries voluntarily is not a trivial matter that can be discussed and allocate a deadline by only two ministers.

“The government of Tanzania will continue with the process that had already been set in motion to involve all stakeholders in discussing this matter -- and once the decision is reached, the Kenya government will be informed through EAC officials meetings,” Dr Mwakyembe told reporters.

He said the 1985 bilateral agreement between Tanzania and Kenya aimed at providing guidelines on cooperation between the two countries on issues of tourism, stressing that the agreement provided directions on areas that the two countries can exchange tourists in a manner that will reduce hassles to tourists.

Dr Mwakyembe mentioned the areas as towns in border areas and official towns recommended and agreed on by the two sides, including Nairobi where the JKIA is located.

The minister added that airports, especially international ones, will continue to be accessed by vehicles from within and without the EAC and that the government will not view the airports as tourist attraction sites.

“Tanzania will continue to respect the more than 50 years’ old friendship that exists between the two countries and this small issue will not affect this relationship,” he explained.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Joyce Mapunjo, explained that the economic impact of the Kenyan ban is minimal and that the government will continue to ensure that tourists destined for Tanzania are informed to use other airports.

She wondered why Kenya would rush to impose the ban when the meeting to discuss the 1985 bilateral agreement had already been set for March 31, this year.

In December last year, Kenya issued a ban order refusing Tanzania-registered tourists vehicles from accessing the Nairobi airport because Tanzania would not allow Kenyan operators access to the country’s national parks using Kenyan-registered tourists vans.

Although the two countries tried to arrange meetings to address the issue, the deadline issued by Kenya expired and the ban was reinstated again on February 6.

According to local media in Kenya, the Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Ms Phyllis Kandie, said Kenya has taken the move to ensure fair play in the sector since Kenya tour vans have not been allowed in Tanzania parks and airports for a long period.

“From today February 6, 2015, at midnight, Tanzania registered tour vans will not be allowed to pick, drop or exchange passengers at all tourism sites, airstrips and airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,” Ms Kandie announced during a media briefing.

On December 22 last year, Kenyan authorities clamped the ban on Tanzanian-registered vehicles from dropping off or picking up passengers at JKIA and other airports and tourism sites.

But Tanzania requested for negotiations with Kenya to have the ban lifted for a period of three weeks.

However Ms Kandie says there has been no dialogue between the two countries within the given period pushing Kenya to get back to the full implementation of a 1985 bilateral agreement.