This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
Busia County is staring at a potential Covid-19 wave, with the old airstrip now a crowded holding zone for truck drivers awaiting tests. The facility has also become a hub for commercial sex trade and reckless behavior.
At night, the airstrip transforms into a brothel, with commercial sex workers catering to the needs of truck drivers. The facility's proximity to a bar that operates round the clock has made it an ideal spot for the sex workers to ply their trade.
Residents have expressed concern over the situation, with some calling for the government to intervene and fence off the airstrip to restrict movement. They also want mass testing of people living near the airstrip to determine if the virus has spread beyond the truck drivers.
County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri has warned that the situation is dangerous, with truck drivers buying fresh food and having it prepared by locals unaware of the risks. He has urged the drivers to restrict their interaction with locals.
Motorbike operators in the area are also at risk of spreading the virus, with long queues of trucks extending dozens of kilometers on the Malaba-Bungoma-Eldoret highway and Busia-Kisumu highway providing them with a lucrative business opportunity.
As of Sunday, Busia had 312 positive cases of truck drivers, with the government yet to implement measures to contain the spread of the virus.
