Kenya’s Truck Drivers Strike Over Increased Harassment, Deaths At KEY Borders
Ugandan authorities have allegedly arrested and detained Kenyan drivers’ leaders, causing uproar within the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA).
In a statement on Sunday, May 10, KTA said the arrest came shortly after the leaders helped broker a resolution to the recent trucking standoff along a road linking Uganda and South Sudan.
According to the statement, the detained Kenyans played a role in negotiations that addressed the arrest and harassment of truck drivers in South Sudan.
Which led to the signing of a record of resolutions on trade facilitations and highway security on saturday may 9.
KTA described the reported arrests in Uganda as unjust and deeply concerning, claiming that individuals who had acted in good faith to secure a peaceful solution were now being subjected to arbitrary detention.
“Their efforts contributed significantly to the successful conclusion of negotiations and culminated in the signing of the Record of Resolutions on Trade Facilitation and Highway Security on May 9, 2026, which facilitated the resumption of normal trade operations along the corridor,” KTA stated in a statement.
“It is therefore both unjust and deeply concerning that leaders who acted in good faith to secure a peaceful resolution are now reportedly being subjected to arbitrary arrest,” it added.
Truck drivers have paralyzed the Uganda-South Sudan border for an eighth day at Elegu. The blockade follows a brutal attack on a driver and reports of 10 Kenyans detained. Over 1,000 trucks are stuck as drivers demand an end to highway ambushes and illegal security roadblocks. pic.twitter.com/7clguZSzZR
— The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) May 5, 2026
According to the association, the drivers have already begun a strike at the key border crossings of Malaba and Busia.
This has disrupted cargo flow along the Northern Corridor and raising fears of wider economic consequences for the region.
The two crossings serve as primary gateways for goods moving from Kenya’s port of Mombasa into Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.
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Any disruption at the borders will not only affect revenue for the Kenya and Tanzania but will affect other countries like Rwanda, DRC, and South Sudan who all depend on the route for their goods.
To address the strike, the association called on Ugandan authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the detained leaders, guarantee their safety, and facilitate their return to Kenya.
“KTA respectfully calls upon the Ugandan security authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the detained leaders, guarantee their safety and well-being, and facilitate their prompt and safe return to Kenya,” KTA added.
It is worth noting that recently, long-distance drivers announced a disruption of cargo movement to South Sudan.
This move paralysed transportation at the borders due to congestion along the corridor, with designated holding areas fully saturated.
Kenya’s Truck Drivers Strike Over Increased Harassment, Deaths At KEY Borders
