Residents of the Kenya‑Ethiopia border town Moyale have been unable to send or receive money locally for more than three years, prompting journeys of over 200 kilometres to towns such as Mega and Yabelo for any banking need.

The lack of formal services has increased transport costs, consumed valuable time and exposed travellers to theft and other security risks, especially when they rely on informal money couriers.

Local residents say the disruption hampers family support for university students, cross‑border trade and urgent medical payments, with some families resorting to black‑market channels.

Darmii Jaatan, a mother of seven, explained that she now depends on informal operators or costly trips to send money to her children studying away from home, noting that informal mobile‑banking transactions can remain pending for more than 72 hours.

Husseen Abdii recounted a recent incident where his brother’s broken bones required treatment at Wolaita Sodo Hospital, but the inability to transfer urgent funds locally forced a 200‑kilometre trip to Yabelo, delaying medical care.

A government official told Addis Standard that the restrictions aim to curb illegal trade, contraband and illicit financial flows, requiring users to hold a business licence and to open bank accounts outside Moyale, while recipients must have accounts opened in the town.

The official added that money‑transfer services have not been fully banned, but the rule that accounts must be opened outside Moyale with local recipients creates difficulties for many recent migrants to the town.

An economist from Borana University warned that the measures have crippled Moyale’s formal market economy, driving trade into the black market and imposing high social costs on families seeking education and health services.

Residents continue to await a resolution, describing the three‑year financial services gap as a critical barrier to the town’s cross‑border trade‑dependent economy.