Kenya, Uganda shame

Aerial view of trucks at Malaba border on May 26, 2020. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Once again, a row between Kenya and Uganda is hurting people and businesses on both sides of the border.

Hundreds of truck drivers heading to Uganda have been stuck at Busia and Malaba border points for days, causing a massive traffic snarl-ups.

Ugandan customs officials have delayed clearance of drivers from the Kenyan side due to Covid-19 fears. Ugandan authorities reportedly want truckers from Kenya to take Covid-19 test although they already been given Covid-19 certificates in Kenya. This is not the first time we are witnessing such a standoff.

Covid-19 has been with us for more than a year and it is a shame that the two countries cannot agree on an issue as simple as testing of the virus. Kenya and Uganda should sit down and resolve this problem instead of resorting to crude tactics that punish businesses and and innocent citizens.