This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kenya-Uganda border has become a hotspot for cases, with over 300 truck drivers testing positive in Busia County.
Published on June 16, 2020, the situation has been exacerbated by the lack of accommodation facilities, with many hotels, restaurants, and guest houses remaining closed due to the pandemic.
Locals have taken advantage of the situation, setting up chang'aa dens and offering laundry services and food to the stranded drivers, who often disregard health regulations and mingle freely.
Prostitution has also been reported to be thriving in the area, with young girls from Uganda being targeted.
Health officials have expressed concern that the spread of the virus could accelerate through bodaboda riders, who ferry the truckers to a testing station at Alupe without proper protective gear.
Busia County Governor Sospeter Ojaamong' has issued an entry ban on all trucks whose drivers do not have Covid-19 negative certificates 48 hours before departure from their point of origin.
With the number of positive cases expected to increase sharply, the governor has warned that his government may be forced to convert other hospitals into treatment centers, affecting local communities.
Meanwhile, Kenyan drivers in Tanzania have appealed to President Kenyatta to intervene and bring an end to cross-border wrangles that have led to their trucks being held by Tanzanian officials.
