This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
Published on June 19, 2020, a High Court judge has temporarily suspended a government directive requiring imported goods destined for Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan to be transported via the Standard Gauge Railway to Naivasha Inland Container Depot.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia had ordered that the goods be transported via the Standard Gauge Railway to Naivasha Inland Container Depot from the port of Mombasa for clearance.
However, Lady Justice Pauline Nyamweya on Thursday issued the temporary order which effectively stops the directive issued by transport CS last month.
According to Justice Nyamweya, the suit filed by activist Okiya Omtatah challenging the directive meets the threshold of an arguable case.
“Leave granted herein do operate as stay and or suspension of the notice on transit cargo published by the transport CS on May 22 on official Facebook page of the ministry, pending the substantive hearing of this matter,” said Justice Nyamweya.
The government had indicated that the directive was meant to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, but the judge said the suit filed by Omtatah challenging it meets the threshold of an arguable case.
Uganda had protested against the directive, saying it would not reduce human movement as truck drivers would still be required to pick the containers from Naivasha to the destinations.
Truck drivers also protested against the Naivasha ICD order, citing massive investment and job losses.
The case will be mentioned on July 22.
