This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, a worrying trend has emerged at the Kenya-Uganda border, where truck drivers are causing a spike in coronavirus cases.
According to reports, over 1,500 truck drivers and their turn boys are forced to wait for their Covid-19 test results for days in Busia, creating a booming business for locals who are hosting them in their homes.
However, the situation has taken a turn for the worse, with locals disregarding health regulations and mingling freely with the truck drivers, posing a significant threat to the fight against Covid-19.
As of Sunday, more than 300 drivers had tested positive from a sample of over 6,000, with health officers testing a daily average of 600 samples.
With anticipated mass testing, the number of positive cases is expected to increase sharply, prompting Governor Sospeter Ojaamong' to warn that his government may be forced to convert other hospitals into treatment centres to the detriment of local communities.
County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri has blamed truck owners for flouting the government's directive of having their drivers obtain Covid-19 negative certificates 48 hours from the point of origin.
Meanwhile, Kenyan drivers in Tanzania have appealed to President Kenyatta to intervene and bring to an end cross-border wrangles that have led to their trucks being held by Tanzanian officials.
According to reports, over 128 cargo trucks have been impounded, with drivers being subjected to extreme living conditions.
Drivers who spoke to the Nation in Isebania town over the weekend said that despite being allowed to proceed with their journey, Tanzanian officials have declined to release their trucks, a move that has subjected them to severe hardships.
