Transit drivers loose most hours on insecurity
Transit drivers waste about nine-and-a-half hours on the Northern Corridor due to security concerns further increasing the inefficiency of Kenya’s lucrative route to East Africa’s hinterland.
A report by TradeMark East Africa shows that waits at border posts take away a further 8.7 hours and transit vehicles spend over 8.6 hours tracing mechanics when their vehicles break down.
The study recorded 18,683 trips between January and June 2021 from a pool of drivers plying the Northern Corridor routes to the respective member states.
The highest charges per stop during the period under review were witnessed at the customs area, with an average cost of about 20 USD.
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“Analysis shows that stoppages due to insecurity were lengthy, with an average of about 9.45 hours followed by border post procedures taking about 8.8 hours,” the report read.
Various factors occasion the frequency of stoppages by truck drivers along the corridor.
The most prevalent stops occurred due to rest/meals, featuring 31 per cent, followed by stops at weighbridges accounting for 15 per cent and stops occasioned by the police/security checks at approximately 11 per cent.
About one per cent of drivers did not specify the reasons for stoppages.
It is important to note that these stoppages, if many, cause delays and inefficiencies on the corridor as well as a hindrance to trade in the region.
