June 06, 2016
Nairobi, Kenya
Gridlock looms as 3,000 long-distance trucks plan to block roads in protest
Long-distance trucks will Monday block major roads in the country as part of a “peaceful demonstration” to decry insecurity and harassment on the highways.
The Mombasa-Nairobi highway will be the most affected, according to the head of the Kenyan Truck Drivers Group, Mr Hassan Kabeberi Abdallah, and is asking Kenyans to “use alternative routes.”
“We will block that road at Malili Town around 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,” he told the Daily Nation on Sunday.
The Kenyan Truck Drivers Group says nearly 3,000 trucks will be involved in the strike that is scheduled to begin today at 6am until their demands are addressed.
He said some roads were in poor condition, making their work more difficult and risky especially those driving along the Garissa-Mandera route as well as in Turkana where banditry is rife.
They are asking the government to provide police escort to all trucks driving into South Sudan which they say is a “hotspot” of attacks and discrimination of Kenyan drivers and vehicles.
“We have lost 37 drivers since January 2016 while on duty in South Sudan with the recent case a few weeks back when one of our drivers was killed after being shot in the head.
Female drivers, he added, have to deal with sexual harassment while at work.
The standoff will not only affect travellers but also the recipients of the cargo — including petroleum, vehicles and other items — the trucks are meant to deliver across the Kenyan borders.
Source: Truckers to block roads in protest
Nairobi, Kenya
Gridlock looms as 3,000 long-distance trucks plan to block roads in protest
Long-distance trucks will Monday block major roads in the country as part of a “peaceful demonstration” to decry insecurity and harassment on the highways.
The Mombasa-Nairobi highway will be the most affected, according to the head of the Kenyan Truck Drivers Group, Mr Hassan Kabeberi Abdallah, and is asking Kenyans to “use alternative routes.”
“We will block that road at Malili Town around 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,” he told the Daily Nation on Sunday.
The Kenyan Truck Drivers Group says nearly 3,000 trucks will be involved in the strike that is scheduled to begin today at 6am until their demands are addressed.
He said some roads were in poor condition, making their work more difficult and risky especially those driving along the Garissa-Mandera route as well as in Turkana where banditry is rife.
They are asking the government to provide police escort to all trucks driving into South Sudan which they say is a “hotspot” of attacks and discrimination of Kenyan drivers and vehicles.
“We have lost 37 drivers since January 2016 while on duty in South Sudan with the recent case a few weeks back when one of our drivers was killed after being shot in the head.
Female drivers, he added, have to deal with sexual harassment while at work.
The standoff will not only affect travellers but also the recipients of the cargo — including petroleum, vehicles and other items — the trucks are meant to deliver across the Kenyan borders.
Source: Truckers to block roads in protest
