Congestion of trailers in Malaba, Busia, disaster in waiting

Heavy commercial vehicles piled up along Malaba-Bungoma road. [Ignatius Odanga/Standard]

Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has hinted at expanding the road from Mundika to Busia town to a dual-carriageway soon.

The governor said he and the Kenya National Highways Authorities (KenHa) officers had agreed to have the construction begin from the Busia customs office.

“What we were waiting for is budget to be read and that has already been done, so expansion of the road to dual-carriageway will start soon,” said Mr Ojaamong.

The county boss defended his administration against criticism from the public that he had failed to expand the narrow road, saying the mandate was not his.

Expansion of the 10-kilometre stretch along the busy Busia-Kisumu highway will come as a relief to motorists. The road is ever congested by heavy commercial trucks whenever the systems at the Custom is down.

Last week Bungoma senator Moses Wetang'ula said in the Senate that congestion in border towns of Busia and Malaba towns was a time bomb.

Committee petitioned

He petitioned the Senate Committee on Roads and Transport to visit the two towns and witness the mess occasioned by long queues of trucks and make recommendations on what could be done to fix the problem.

Hundreds of trailers loaded with goods cross to Uganda daily. Whenever there is network failure used for clearing and forwarding the trailers, including oil tankers at the customs in Malaba and Busia borders, drivers are forced to park on the road.

“The national government should start plans to address safety issues posed by congestion since some of the cargo is inflammable and dangerous,” said the Bungoma senator.

Wetang’ula’s concern was backed by Migori Senator Ochilo Ayacko, who regretted the "sad" state of affairs he witnessed in Malaba.

The Migori Senator, having visited the border town last weekend, noted that the state of affairs at the Malaba border was bad. Ayacko said the Government was at risk of losing revenue to delayed cargo clearance and a possible diversion of cargo through the Dar- es Salaam port.