KTA Grant Monthly report May 2012

The organization's core objective is to enhance the capacity of transporters to achieve sustainability. The KTA-COMPETE grant is a key initiative aimed at supporting the organization's strategic plan, which focuses on three pillars: advocacy, institutional development and sustainability, and member services. Advocacy is a critical component of the KTA's strategic plan, and the organization has been actively engaged in various advocacy efforts during the month of May 2012. One notable advocacy effort was the attendance of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Committee meeting, which was convened by the Ministry of East African Community in Machakos town. The meeting aimed to review and agree on the terms of reference for the National OSBP steering committee, review the terms of reference of the National and Bilateral sub-committees, and discuss the concerns of the Sectoral Council on legal and judicial affairs on the OSBP Bill 2010. As a result of the meeting, KTA was included on the National OSBP Steering Committee. Another significant advocacy effort was the attendance of the Ports Management Association for East and Southern Africa (PMAESA) Meeting, which was convened at the Mombasa Continental Resort. The meeting aimed to discuss the creation of a single point of coordination to oversee and support the activities of the various African Corridor Management Institutions, identify best practices among African Corridor Management Institutions, and identify African Corridors with the global network to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness of services provided by corridors. The KTA has also been actively engaged in institutional development and sustainability efforts. The Single-Window E-Portal project between TMEA and KTA is still ongoing, and plans to relocate to a new premise to host the East Africa HCV Drivers Training Institute are still underway. The business plan for the Training institute has been developed, and consultants engaged by USAID-COMPETE have essentially kick-started the business development plan. In terms of member services, the KTA secretariat team has been conducting member visits, with up to four companies visited during the month of May 2012. A KTA members meeting was also held to discuss a notice by KeNHA regarding dummy/dead axles, and a sub-committee was selected to engage KeNHA officials directly regarding demands to dismantle dummy axles. The KTA managed to obtain a court order stopping KeNHA from implementing the directive on dummy axles pending determination by court, offering a temporary reprieve to members. The KTA has also been engaged in efforts to resolve the Busitema and Mbale weighbridges issue with Kenya transporters through the East African Community (MEAC) and the Ministry of Roads. Harmonization of the axle load limits within the EAC member states now rests with the East African Community Legislative Assembly. The KTA has also recruited two new members, including one associate member, and has noted an increase in the number of institutions seeking to partner with the organization. Overall, the KTA has been actively engaged in various advocacy, institutional development and sustainability, and member services efforts during the month of May 2012. The organization's efforts are aimed at enhancing the capacity of transporters to achieve sustainability and promoting the interests of the transportation sector in East Africa.