Kenya will start mass testing of all long-distance truck drivers who are among high risk groups.
Chief Administrative Secretary for Health Dr Rashid Aman has revealed.
Addressing Malaba One Stop Border Post Border Committee County and National government officials in Malaba on Tuesday, Aman said the exercise is crucial in combating the spread of Covid-19 in high risk border counties.
” Uganda is already undertaking mass testing of truck drivers which is appropriate, there is need for Kenya to expand its testing to include truck drivers,” he said.
He added that they also plan to test high risk groups including frontline workers and all health workers.
To expand the scope of testing, the CAS said Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and KEMRI Alupe and Kisumu will be used as testing centers in the region.
To avoid traffic pile ups in Malaba which is currently experiencing a 30-km snarl-up and Busia 5km, Dr Aman said the Government will negotiate with Uganda to have Kenya take samples of truck drivers 30km inside Uganda and Uganda should do likewise inside Kenya.
He said this will enable tests readily available before they cross into the country.
Transport and Infrastructure CAS Chris Obure said the 30km traffic pile-up in Malaba is unacceptable.
Obure said the jam has serious implications on truck owners in terms of lost revenue and dangers posed to communities living along the Bungoma-Malaba Highway.
“Covid-19 should not be a reason to defeat the objective of the East African Community, thus the need to find an urgent solution to the pandemic,” he said.