Truck Drivers Pledge Demonstrations in Response to Kenyan Deaths in South Sudan

On Sunday, January 21, the Kenya Long Distance Drivers Association expressed their concern over the alleged mistreatment of their members who are detained by the authorities in South Sudan.

The association reports that a total of 64 Kenyan long-distance drivers have been apprehended, raising concerns about the potentially severe circumstances they might be enduring while detained. They say that the police officers forcibly removed the drivers from their vehicles at gunpoint and transported them to prisons. The association is deeply concerned for the welfare of its members, fully aware of the potential hazards they could encounter within these confines.

The drivers have staged demonstrations following the unexplained deaths of four Kenyans. The drivers' union argues that these fatalities were caused by actions taken by South Sudanese police officers stationed on the roads. The head of the Long Distance Drivers Association, Wema, reveals that two members of their organization recently passed away, while another two lost their lives the previous week.

He reports that although some have been freed, their return home is delayed as a precaution against possible road attacks. This transportation route, relied upon by more than 3,500 drivers, is crucial for delivering goods from Mombasa to the landlocked nation of South Sudan.

"A driver departs from their residence in Mombasa to transport cargo to South Sudan, to support their family, only to be apprehended. We must respect and adhere to the existing laws," says a concerned driver.

Numerous complaints have arisen regarding instances of mistreatment aimed at Kenyan truck drivers in South Sudan. These drivers are desperately pleading with the Kenyan authorities for assistance in securing the prompt freedom of those who have been apprehended, as well as resolving the numerous challenges encountered by drivers in both countries.