Heavy traffic congestion could be experienced on major roads in the country from Monday after long-distance truck drivers vowed to go on strike.
The Head of Kenyan Truck Drivers Group, Mr Hassan Kabeberi Abdallah, stated that they would hold “peaceful demonstrations” over insecurity and harassment of drivers on the highways.
Mr Kabeberi indicated that about 3000 trucks would be involved and asked motorists to use alternative routes. The Mombasa-Nairobi highway will reportedly be the most affected as the striking drivers have vowed to block the road at Malili town, Konza City.
"Our other members will also block the Naivasha-Nakuru highway at Kikopey in Gilgil; the Eldoret-Malaba highway at Jua Kali in Eldoret; and the Busia-Kisumu highway at Sega,” Mr Hassan was quoted by the Daily Nation.
The truck drivers want the government to provide security along the South Sudan route, claiming they had lost 37 colleagues on the same route from January.
Mr Hassan stated that the route was a crime hotspot and demanded that the Kenyan Ambassador to South Sudan be replaced for failing to take action.
The long distance drivers also want the government to remove “road-block taxes” where each truck pays Sh50 at each mounted road block, accounting to about Sh4,000 on a single trip as bribes.
The irate truckers further affirmed they had received support from their employers and the industrial action would take place until their grievances were addressed by the government.
The strike will not only affect travellers but also recipients of cargo such as petroleum and vehicles across the Kenyan borders.
