The Busia County Commissioner (CC), Joseph Kanyiri has urged owners of transport companies to ensure that truck drivers are tested for Covid-19 and issued with clearance certificates before departure.
Speaking to the press at his office on Wednesday, Kanyiri said the move will help ease long queues being experienced at both Busia and Malaba border points.
“The government issued a directive that all transporting companies ensure that their drivers and entire crew are tested at point of origin instead of waiting to be tested at the border point of exit,” he said.
He stated that the County has kicked off mass testing for the disease but still had teething problems forcing drivers to wait for longer hours.
“Such drivers might be forced to take two to three days in Busia because our neighbouring country of Uganda cannot allow them entry without Covid-19 certificate,” he said.
The CC advised the local residents not to engage closely with truck drivers, adding that most of the Covid-19 cases in the County have originated from the drivers.
“If the drivers insist in coming without Covid-19 clearance certificates, then they will be forced to park their vehicles away from Busia town as they wait to be tested at the border,” he said.
Kanyiri disclosed that there were only two laboratory technicians at both Busia and Malaba border post to carry out the test leading to the long queues at the two border points.
“We have requested for at least 12 lab technicians across the County so that they can work in shifts,” he said adding that failure to do that will lead to dangers of the spread of the virus from the drivers to the community.
He expressed concern that the challenge has created around 40 kilometre stretch of trucks from Malaba town to Bungoma.
By Salome Alwanda
