By Philip Barasa, DevReporter, Busia County
The long queues being witnessed along the Kisumu-Busia Highway leading to the border is turning chaotic. According to Senator Hon. Moses Wetangula, the situation is becoming a real danger to the local residents. The queue in Busia stretches towards the direction of River Sio while another one in Malaba stretches towards Webuye.
“That is around 50 kilometers in Malaba and 20 kilometers in Busia,” Senator Wetangula said, adding that the delays on the Highway are negatively impacting the economy.
Slow and costly verification process
Senator Wetangula further stated that because of the long queues, the truck drivers are suffering with nowhere to sleep or relieve themselves as the Ugandan authorities insist that they pay KSh 3,600 even after being tested for the Covid-19 virus. The drivers are protesting the demands by the Ugandan authorities who are said to be demanding the amount in order to clear each driver crossing into their country.
Traffic congestion
The long queues have posed various challenges like increased accidents, traffic congestion, increased social vices and dirty surrounding.
Traffic accidents
There have been cases of traffic accidents that would have otherwise been avoided. The accidents are resulting from trucks being parked along the steep edges of the Highway.
“There are many trailers on the road which sometimes topple and cause accidents on the road,” says Nancy, a Busia resident.
Dirty surrounding
The truck drivers have been spotted answering calls of nature just beside their trucks.
“We are forced to relieve ourselves outside the trucks because residents will not let us use their toilets,” one of the drivers says. This situation puts residents of Busia County in constant fear of contracting diseases such as diarrhea and hepatitis.
Thriving commercial sex business
The situation at the border has also made commercial sex business to thrive. Because of traffic congestion, there is increased interaction between the truck drivers and sex workers who are sometimes of school going age.
There is urgent need to expand the Highway so as to eliminate the several issues that result from it being narrow. It will be a welcome relief to the road users and Busia residents when the situation at the border is addressed.
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