This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
On June 10, 2020, Transport Secretary James Macharia announced plans to upgrade an access road in Malaba border point to ease traffic congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The upgrade is aimed at reducing the lengthy wait for COVID-19 test results that has been causing trucks to be stuck in traffic for up to 40km along the Bungoma-Kanduyi-Malava road.
According to Macharia, the Ministry is engaging TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) as the contractor for the upgrade, which is expected to be completed in one week.
The road connects to the Malaba border point, which is the second busiest border crossing in Africa, serving several land-locked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Northern Zambia, DR Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
Truck drivers have complained of harassment from Ugandan authorities, time wastage before tests are conducted, poor handling when being tested, and unlawful detention.
Additionally, there are no sanitation facilities for the drivers along the roads, and some trucks carrying hazardous and inflammable cargo are extending up to way past Bungoma town and midway to Webuye.
