ii. Market/Goods
Market at the Malaba Border (Kenya side) is mainly trading on cross-border agricultural commodities sourced from Uganda side. Most of the food produce are sourced from the nearby market in Uganda side, others directly by traders in various farms within Uganda and brought in for sale in Kenya Side.

Among the Food produce traded at the border.

    • Oranges
    • Tomatoes
    • Watermelon
    • Onions
    • Carrots
    • Fish
    • Bitter lemon
    • Pineapples
    • Bananas
    • Cereals (Beans, peas, sorghum, millet etc.)
    • Lemon 
    • Soya beans 
    • Green peas (Ndengu)

Fish are obtained mainly within Kenya (Port Victoria, Lodwar, and Lake Victoria). Uganda has stringent measures on the fish, where there is restriction on the fishing of immature fish, hence allowing Kenya side to be the main supplier of fish at the border.

Most of the other food produce are source in Uganda side. This is attributed to low prices of food produce from Uganda as well as plenty supply compared to Kenya side.

Cross border trade of food produce in Malaba border is mainly one way, goods from Uganda to Kenya side, except for few other commodities which can be obtained in Kenya during seasons.

There is a border market infrastructure for traders at Malaba but not no enough sufficient. The market area for the fresh produced is open on Wednesday and Saturday. However, the cereals traders operating along the road open all week Monday to Sunday.

1. At the border crossing, there are no restrictions on small traders to access the markets on both sides. Cross border traders cross freely using designated points that usually maned by local authorities and police. However, a fee levied on the goods carried;


2. The fee charged at the border is KSHs 50 per sack by the Uganda local authorities and another KSHs 50 by Kenya local authorities. However, there was mentioned of extra charge of KSHs 20 on the Uganda side what is referred to as ‘COMESA’ charges;


3. Trades transport their goods across the border using mostly motorcycles (moto bikes) and pay a fee of 50 – 100 KSHs.

iii. Challenges at the border

• Traders selling their goods along the streets disadvantaging those selling at designated market area. Some traders avoid the market because of market fee and opted to sell along the streets, disadvantaging those operating in the market area.


• Some suppliers who sell to small scale traders revert to retail competing with the same traders they sell to. This disadvantages the small traders because they sometimes sell at lower prices or wholesale prices to consumers.


• The available stores (storage facilities) charge high fees that the small Traders cannot afford thus resort to carry the unsold goods back home or give it out shop owners along the way


• Not involving market officials when carrying out sensitizations workshops meetings, hence disadvantaging the retailers at the market.