Malaba shoots into the limelight whenever the Northern Corridor has traffic snarl-ups caused by by cargo trucks crossing into Uganda.
Malaba town, about 478km west of Nairobi – for travellers going through Nakuru, Eldoret and Bungoma – strategically stands on the Kenya-Uganda border.
With its 24-hour economy, the town is attracting more investment due to it busy nature and entrepreneurial spirit of the transborder community.
On an ordinary day, Malaba bustles with activity.
Cargo trucks clear at the One Stop Border Post to exit or enter Kenya, boda boda riders ferry passengers into Kenya and Uganda, clearing agents dash from one cargo truck to another before vanishing into the KRA, And, of course, pedestrians.
In the dingy backstreets, smoke is billowing for more than 12 hours a days. There you can grab a snack or fry or a plate of boiled meat for a low price.
The main road connecting it to Bungoma is full of activity. Men carry sacks of fruits from Uganda deliver them to dealers. Touts at the doors of matatus plying the Malaba-Bungoma route call out for passengers. Women fry fish and chicken along the roadside.
The town’s location on both sides of River Malaba, which separates the two countries, provides it an opportunity to have friendly relations and the town has grown.
Many Ugandans living along the border have invested on the Kenyan as Kenyans inject millions of shillings into the Ugandan side.
Some of the best garages in Malaba, Kenya, are run by Ugandans. They attract customers from as far as Bungoma town.
Many hotel and bar attendants on the Kenyan side come from Uganda. The hospitality and entertainment industry workers cross the border in the morning. They report to their work stations in Kenya before returning home in Uganda in the evening.
The workers say they preferred working in Kenyan because Kenyan business owners offer better pay than Ugandans. employers.
Some of the most flourishing entertainment businesses on the Ugandan side are owned by Kenyans.
Lawyer Vitalis Omulepu, who is based in the town, said the unity between Kenyans and Ugandans in Malaba has greatly contributed to development.
“The border is just a geographical demarcation. The people living on either side share ethnic blood lines, speak shared languages and celebrate shared cultural events. A case in point are the Iteso and their king, Emperior Papa Osuban who lives in Uganda,” Omulepu said.
“Shared cultures make it easier for them to bond and thus do business with each other more easily. On the other hand, tax regimes between the two countries vary. That is why it is common to find Kenyans flocking to Uganda to purchase utilities at fairly cheaper prices.”
Residents of either side of Malaba benefit greatly from social amenities such as health services.
“Many Ugandan nationals cross into Kenya in search of better medical care and the same applies to Kenyans,” he said.
Malaba Kenya and Uganda also cooperate in disaster management and firefighting. Whenever a fire erupts on either side, fire engines from both sides come to the rescue of their neighbours.: This reflects their deep ties," Omulepu said.
Cooperation in fire fighting was evident when fire erupted at Kenya’s Agriculture department offices in June 2015. Fire engines from Uganda came to the rescue. Back then, Busia did not have a fire engine..
Jairosi Cotton Farmers Cooperative Society manager Edward Oteba attributed the growth of Malaba town to the shared cultures which residents across the border enjoy.
He said the peace is a business enabler because members of the Iteso community are spread across the border.
“The Iteso originated from Uganda. They settled on both sides of the border soe cultural activities are more or less the same, including staple foods,” he said.
The same applies to business. There is a lot of informal cross-border trade that has enhanced good interstate relationship.
The One Stop Border Post in Malaba has also promoted formal trade that employs a large number of youth from both Kenya and Uganda.
Malaba is set to reap big, economically, after the county government granted it municipality status on April 29, 2020, under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.
The status paved the way for the town to receive Sh500 million from the World Bank. It is meant to improve social amenities within the municipality.
Municipality status was approved by the Busia County Assembly on March 5, 2020. The status was published in the Kenya Gazette No75 of April 24, 2020, incorporating Gazette Notice No 3247 of April 7, 2020, on the commencement date of the Malaba Municipality Charter.
Because of low costs, some Kenyan students prefer to study in Uganda. Beer is cheaper in Uganda and Kenyans have opened pubs in Uganda. We love each other.
The Municipality comprises Malaba North, Malaba Central, Malaba South and Amukura West wards.
Its new status is expected to bring major resources from the county and national governments and development partners in infrastructure projects.
Resident Okoit Lok’Etyang said with the peaceful coexistence between Kenyans and Ugandans and the cooperation between residents more will be achieved to the benefit everyone.
“We and Ugandans who live here are relatives because we are from the same community. We have intermarried and we depend on them for foodstuffs,” Etyang said.
“With schools being more affordable in Uganda, some students from humble backgrounds prefer to study in Uganda. Beer is cheaper in Uganda and Kenyans have opted to open pubs in Uganda. We love each other.”
Resident Edgar Okisai said with the cooperation between residents along the border, the town and its environs will grow as it continues to attract more investors.
“Kenyans and Ugandans have intermarried here a lot. This is our biggest advantage. When nationals of the two countries do business together, it is in-laws doing business. Who would want to fail their in-laws?” he asked.
Uganda is one of Kenya's top trading partners.
Uganda has remained among Kenya’s top trading partners globally.
The East African Kenya Economic Survey Report 2021 said it was the biggest market for Kenyan goods last year. Kenyan exports hit Sh643.7 billion.
Kenya’s value of exports to the neighbouring country totaled Sh72.2 billion, a rise from 64.1 billion the previous year.
Malaba town is currently undergoing rapid infrastructure development with the multi-million sewerage project by the African Development Bank nearing completion.
The Kocholia Dam project set to benefit residents of Malana municipality is being financed by the Korean Exim Bank. The Angololo Dam project is receiving funding from the African Development Bank in partnership with Kenya and Ugandan.
The water projects are mega initiatives that will turn around the economy of not only Malaba municipality but also the region.
With the completion of the water projects, residents will receive clean water and improved sewerage system.
(Edited by V. Graham)