The Kenya Long Distance Drivers Association came out on Sunday January 21 to lament on atrocities allegedly committed against their members detained by the South Sudan Authorities.
According to the Association, 64 Kenyans who are long-distance drivers were arrested by the South Sudan authorities and it is feared that they are being mistreated while in custody.
“They were frogmarched from their vehicles at gunpoint by security officers and taken to jails. We are worried because we know what would happen to them there. They are in chains the whole day in the cells,” Roman Wema, Chairperson-Long Distance Drivers Association stated.
The arrests of the drivers were made following demonstrations by the drivers over the death of 4 other Kenyans who were killed in unclear circumstances.
The association membership alleges that the 4 Kenyans were shot dead by South-Sudanese law enforcement personnell stationed along the roads.
“Recently two of our members have been killed, but the other week, two had also been killed,” Wema added.
He further added that those killed are members of the Long Distance Truck Drivers Association from Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, and Eldoret
The association now threatens to carry out regional drivers' demonstrations in the East African region for those in custody in South Sudan as well as for those who lost their lives.
Some have been released but for fear of attack on the roads, have not yet returned home.
More than 3,500 drivers operate on the transport corridor where they ferry goods from Mombasa to South Sudan which is landlocked
“A driver gets out of their home in Mombasa to take cargo to South Sudan so that they can be able to take care of their family, then get arrested. There are laws and the laws should be followed,” one driver stated.
Several claims of harassment of Kenyan truck drivers in South Sudan have been reported in the past.
The drivers are appealing for the Kenyan government to facilitate the safe travel of those detained back into the country and the challenges faced by drivers addressed by the two countries.
