Truck Drivers Reject Covid-19 Test Fee As Cargo Movement Slows

Kenya truck owners have declined payment of the Covid-19 test fees that were imposed on them by the Ministry of Transport in efforts to control the spread of the virus.

According to the Ministry of transport, the drivers are supposed to have certificates to prove they are free from Covid-19 infection before they allowed to travel to other countries.

Apparently, the truck drivers are supposed to pay 6,000 shillings for the first test and an additional 2,000 shillings after every 14 days.

This requirement has been met with strong opposition by the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) who said the drivers will not pay the charges because the tests are supposed to be free.

“Even the Mombasa County government is carrying out tests for free. Why would then the same county government through the public health department charge each driver 6, 000 shillings to get tested,” said KTA chief executive Dennis Ombok.

The Association official argued that the government has mobilized enough resources to ensure the tests are done for free.

“We are saying 6,000 shillings is too much, we have not been consulted, we are not going to agree to pay that amount,” said Ombok while speaking to a local media.

KTA added that transportation of cargo has been enlisted among essential services thus the test fee should be scrapped to enable efficiency in the sector.

In the meantime, the drivers have complained about being harassed by Ugandan Authorities a situation that has slowed down cargo movement across the borders.

The Kenyan drivers are not supposed to stop on the way to go for a short call or relieve themselves while in Uganda.

For this, the drivers have vowed not to step foot into Uganda until the challenges are dealt with.

“Our drivers are being harassed so what I am saying is, stop going into Uganda. Let them come for their own cargo,” Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers Association, Secretary-General, Nicholas Mbugua said.

“We are going to stop going into Uganda until the two governments agree on how to address these issues.”