NAKURU, Kenya, May, 30 – Concerns have been raised by long-distance truck drivers over alleged harassment by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) officials stationed at the Gilgil weighbridge.
The drivers from Uganda, Congo, and South Sudan said that the officials have ‘fashioned’ laws to specifically frustrate them despite complying with the law.
According to scores of drivers their trucks alongside goods have been confiscated resulting in the loss of some perishable goods worth millions of shilling as well as medical equipment.
Officials however who sought anonymity cited the size and weight of the trailers as the contentious issue.
“If Kenya does not want such big trailers, then they should not allow them through the border point instead of this harassment,” said clearing agent Dennis Omusule.
According to the drivers, this is the first time the matter has become an issue despite some of the trucks being in operation for about 10 years.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Transport to intervene and end this stalemate that has been brought by KENHA officials,” he said.
The drivers say that urgent interventions are required since they have been suffering for days.
It has meanwhile been reported that one of the drivers being detained allegedly suffered injuries infected on him by one of the officers at the weighbridge.
“We have passed through many weighbridges from Mombasa and we are wondering why the arrest and harassment in Gilgil,” said Awer Mwanje who noted that despite possessing all the requisite documents their flight remains heard.
“We have paid the road toll, COMESA fee, and other charges as required by the Kenya government but we are still been harassed,” said another driver, Tom Waliemba.
The drivers further asked if the trucks were banned from entering the country – why is it that they were cleared at the Busia border? Their call for justice continues amidst efforts to resolve the stalemate.
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