The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) has called on the National Police Service to intervene, following an influx of undocumented drivers flooding the industry.
Citing a now-flagged report by the NPS that at least 122 foreigners had been arrested for infiltrating the June 17 and June 25 protests, the association urged police to extend the crackdown to these drivers.
"This should narrow down to the transport industry, too. The National Police Service has an influx of foreigners without proper documentation in some of these transport companies," LoDCCA stated.
Backing the long-distance drivers was the Road Safety Awareness Initiative-Kenya, which claimed that these undocumented drivers posed a risk to other drivers, as most are unfamiliar with Kenyan road laws.
"This is a serious concern. Allowing undocumented foreign drivers—many likely untrained or unfamiliar with our road laws—puts lives at risk. We must have strict controls on who is allowed to drive on Kenyan roads, especially in the transport sector," the group said in a statement.
As such, they demanded policy changes that would include a clear vetting process, verified training, and proper licensing to curb this emerging crisis.
They also called for the ratification of cross-border driver standards in cases where these drivers are qualified, insisting that road safety starts with qualified, accountable drivers.
This comes just days after the motorists' association condemned a proposal that seeks to introduce mandatory inspection of private motor vehicles.
Terming it evil, the association claimed that this inspection would be exploitative and a disregard for the economic agony already borne by vehicle owners.
"This proposal is not only unjustified but also stands as a testament to shameless greed and an unrestrained appetite to squeeze Kenyan motorists dry, without conscience or care for the economic agony already borne by vehicle owners," the motorists claimed.
"It is a revenue-collection spectacle rife with corruption and backdoor dealings. Now, inspired by this lucrative chaos, conspirators within the government seek to replicate this circus at the expense of law-abiding private vehicle owners," they added.
In the June 24 statement, the association also criticised the current regime of commercial vehicle inspectors, claiming that over 90 per cent of commercial vehicles received inspection stickers without undergoing actual inspection.
