As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across East Africa, truckers on the Kenya-Uganda border are facing increasing challenges in their daily operations.
According to the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA), truckers have been subjected to teargassing by Ugandan security forces, allegedly for disobeying social distancing directives and health protocols.
Addressing a press conference in Mombasa on 23 May 2020, KTA Chief Executive Officer Dennis Ombok expressed his concerns over the inordinate delays in releasing COVID-19 test results, leading to long queues and trade disruptions at the border crossing points.
"Many of the drivers who took the COVID-19 tests several days ago are not aware of the outcome of those tests to date despite continued promises that the results would be known within 48 hours," Ombok said.
The KTA official also protested against the decision by the Transport Ministry to transport all cargo destined for Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) for clearance at the Naivasha inland container depot, starting from 1 June 2020.
"This directive will render thousands of truckers who earn their livelihood through the transport business destitute," Ombok warned.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia had announced that it would be mandatory for all cargo imported through the port of Mombasa to be hauled through SGR to facilitate the containment of COVID-19.
Other stakeholders, including the Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers Association (KLDTDA) and human rights organizations, have also expressed their concerns over the multiple COVID-19 tests and the impact on cross-border trade.
