This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
On May 20, 2020, Kenya's High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dan Kazungu, addressed news reporters in Dar-es-salaam, refuting claims by Tanzania that COVID-19 testing protocols at the border were targeting Tanzanian truckers.
According to Kazungu, Kenya had not barred Tanzanian trucks from entering Kenya, but rather, they must undergo COVID-19 testing at the border-point as had been agreed by the East African Community (EAC) heads of state.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had given the cessation of movement order in and out of Tanzania, but Kazungu insisted that any trucker, whether Kenyan or Tanzanian, should be allowed to proceed with their journey once it was established that they had tested negative.
East African Community and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed noted that trade relations between Kenya and Tanzania remained healthy, despite the stand-off. He emphasized that cargo trucks would be allowed to move within East African Community member states to transport goods, subject to COVID-19 testing.
Regional Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed stated, 'Each truck driver must be subjected to coronavirus test. Cargo trade will continue as we continue to engage with Tanzania on the same.'
