Truck Drivers have raised concern about their safety due to the long queue in Busia border town. Apparently, the trucks have formed for about 2 kilometres from the main entrance of Busia one-stop border post.
According to the truckers, gangs of thieves attack them at night and rob their properties including bags, luggage, batteries and siphon fuel from the trucks. They have appealed to the relevant authorities to identify a safe place for parking and avail security as they wait for clearance.
Benard Jenga, a driver, says that thugs attacked him around 11: 00 pm on Sunday night and made off with Kshs 4000 (Ugshs: 124,000), a bag containing food and some clothes among other personal property. He, however, says that he cannot jump out of the truck to report to police for fear of losing his position in the queue.
James Thenge, another trucker, says that they are losing fuel to street kids who come at night and siphon fuel from their trucks putting them into losses. He says their neither bathe nor get food easily because of the fear of being robbed.
Suzan Wandera, the Busia town deputy mayor, says that they don’t have alternative parking space to decongest the trucks on the street.
They initially had plans to open a parking yard in Sofia village but the land was allocated to the ministry of health to construct a modern border laboratory.
She says the congestion of trucks in the streets have affected their revenue collection because traders claim that they are no longer selling merchandise and poor hygiene.
John Rex Achila, the Busia Resident District Commissioner, says that they are going to follow up with the police and involve their counterparts in Kenya to join hands and ensure the safety of the truckers at the border.
Emmanuel Uponja, the Uganda Revenue Authority Supervisor at Busia customs, says that there is a challenge on the Kenyan side that they don’t have space for parking as trucks await clearing.
