4. 2019

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Browsing 4. 2019 by Author "Kitonga, Alpha Musyoka"

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    Influence of Customs Procedures on Trade Facilitation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya
    (KESRA/JKUAT - Unpublished research project, 2019) Kitonga, Alpha Musyoka
    The main objective for this research was to establish the influence of customs procedures on trade facilitation at JKIA. Specifically, the research wanted to assess the effect of verification procedures on trade facilitation, to assess the influence of enforcement procedures on trade facilitation in JKIA and to examine the influence of release procedures on trade facilitation in JKIA. The study was grounded on institutional theory, heterogeneous trade firm theory and queuing theory. This was a descriptive research. The objective populace comprised of the customs department of KRA and the cargo sheds operating in JKIA. The target population was 258 employees. This research adopted the stratified random sampling research design. Stratified randomized sampling was applied in this research to select a sample of 20% (51 respondents). This research applied research questionnaire as the main data collection instrument. The questionnaires comprised of open ended and closed ended questions. The questionnaire was made up of two major parts: The first part covers the basic information of the participants; the second part is sub-divided into sub-sections covering the various research variables. The researcher then proceeded to administer the questionnaires through the designated officers and co-ordinated with them to ensure respondents had adequate time to complete them. Prior to the actual study, pilot testing was carried out. Internal consistency method was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha. A pilot test was undertaken among 15 participants purposively selected from Clearing and Forwarding firms in Nairobi. The quantitative data that was acquired from the questionnaires was coded and keyed into the SPSS software. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Tables and figures were used to summarize responses for further analysis and facilitate comparison. Regression analysis was also conducted. The study established that verification procedures affect trade facilitation in JKIA to a great extent, enforcement procedures affect trade facilitation in JKIA to a great extent and release procedures affect trade facilitation in Kenya to a moderate extent. In general customs procedures affect trade facilitation in JKIA to a great extent. The study concludes that verification procedures, scanning, verification of document, physical verification and goods assessment have major influence on trade facilitation in JKIA. Enforcement procedures, joint border controls, bond securities and bank guarantees, inward declarations of vessels, aircrafts, rummaging and search and patrols and surveillance are critical in establishing a sustainable business environment. Gate pass and discharge operations are the most influential aspects of release procedures that play a role in trade facilitation. The study recommends the need for enhanced verification procedures at JKIA. The streamlining and harmonization of verification procedures in JKIA would result in significant reduction of processing times. There is need for streamlining some of the enforcement procedures for cross border trade. The customs office at JKIA needs to automate its discharge operations, KPA pickup order or CFs release order and gate pass procedures for ease of clearance and release.