Trucks pile-up at Busia border to end, says Macharia
Congestion of transit trucks at Busia and Malaba border is expected to end this week, Kenya Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and his Ugandan counterpart Edward Wamala have said.
Kenya and Uganda governments have agreed to eliminate congestion of transit trucks at Busia and Malaba border points by Wednesday.
They said Kenya and Uganda governments will address 13 steps to clear congestion of trucks at the two borders by Wednesday this week.
Speaking to the press at Malaba border at the weekend after a joint meeting, the officials said among key issues to be addressed will be the elimination of weighing trucks at the two border points.
More officers
They said more officers will be deployed to the two borders as the countries seek to increase the number of trucks cleared from 1,000 to 2,000 daily.
Officials who also toured Busia border point agreed that Kenyan truck drivers will be allowed to enter Uganda using their Covid-19 certificates for 14 days without being tested a fresh.
“Kenya truck drivers will be allowed to enter into Uganda using their Covid certificates for 14 days without being tested a fresh,’’ said the Cabinet Secretaries.
Macharia said the government will set aside funds to expand Busia- Kisumu and Malaba Bungoma highways to ease transport.
At the same time, residents of Busia and Malaba border points have accused truck drivers of polluting the environment, by going for long calls in paper bags and disposing of them haphazardly.
They further alleged that the drivers urinate in plastic bottles and end up throwing them along the highway where they are picked by school-going children, thereby endangering their health.
