LONG ROOM IS IN DANGER OFBECOMING A 'GHOST' HOUSE
The recent move to centralise K.R.A. to
Nairobi and particularly the Long Room has overtaken the Customs Department.This move does not seem to be well thought of and could jeopardise the
collection of revenue including that on transit cargo.In fact the collection of revenue has tremendously declined.The move will undoubtedly in-convenience the shipping companies as well as the main stakeholders i.e. the clearing agents.Hence, in order to alleviate the situation and preventing the Long Room in Mombasa from becoming ghost house the authorities should discuss this itchy question with the stakeholders and see if they could save Mombasa from losing
business by closures of clearing offices for reduced business and rendering workers redundant. The Port of Mombasa is unique in that it is not only gateway to Kenya but also neighbouring hinterland States.It is because of this uniqueness and highest collector of Customs duty that the colonial government first made it as a headquarters of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and ultimately that of East Africa Customs.Mombasa is a biggest and natural port South of Sahara.Moreover Zanzibar and Coastal ports of East Africa depend heavily on the support of Kilindini.