Long queues at Malaba irk Kenyan PS
May 25, 2010
A LONG queue of trucks on the Kenyan side of the Malaba border has irked Kenya’s transport permanent secretary, Cyrus Njiru, prompting him to make an impromptu visit to the Uganda Revenue Authority customs yard to find out the cause.
By Reuben Olita
A LONG queue of trucks on the Kenyan side of the Malaba border has irked Kenya’s transport permanent secretary, Cyrus Njiru, prompting him to make an impromptu visit to the Uganda Revenue Authority customs yard to find out the cause.
The trucks had parked on the Northern Corridor highway in Kenya, covering an area of over three kilometres. Robert Kerpou, the URA head of verification, told the PS that the major problems at the joint clearing point were due to low night traffic flow from Kenya.
Flanked by the head of the Malaba Police, Joseph Mwesige, Kerpou said the drivers preferred to park their vehicles at night. “We have enforced the 24-hour joint operation to the letter, but our efforts are being frustrated by drivers as they park their trucks at night and only resume their journeys the following morning, sparking off the perpetual pile-ups on the Kenyan side,†he said.
On learning that the problem emanated from Kenya, the PS ordered the district commissioner (Kenya side), Joseph Rotich, to work with the authorities and the traffic Police to ensure that no trucks parked on the highway.
“We need order at the common border. Truck drivers are playing games by parking their vehicles deliberately to have fun.â€
A LONG queue of trucks on the Kenyan side of the Malaba border has irked Kenya’s transport permanent secretary, Cyrus Njiru, prompting him to make an impromptu visit to the Uganda Revenue Authority customs yard to find out the cause.
The trucks had parked on the Northern Corridor highway in Kenya, covering an area of over three kilometres. Robert Kerpou, the URA head of verification, told the PS that the major problems at the joint clearing point were due to low night traffic flow from Kenya.
Flanked by the head of the Malaba Police, Joseph Mwesige, Kerpou said the drivers preferred to park their vehicles at night. “We have enforced the 24-hour joint operation to the letter, but our efforts are being frustrated by drivers as they park their trucks at night and only resume their journeys the following morning, sparking off the perpetual pile-ups on the Kenyan side,†he said.
On learning that the problem emanated from Kenya, the PS ordered the district commissioner (Kenya side), Joseph Rotich, to work with the authorities and the traffic Police to ensure that no trucks parked on the highway.
“We need order at the common border. Truck drivers are playing games by parking their vehicles deliberately to have fun.â€