Reported by
Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press–Uganda ; Ugandans are stranded in Kenya, after Kenyan President Uhuru Kinyata’s decision to halt movement of interstate buses across the border following a surge in Covid-19. This followed President Uhuru ordering the cessation of all movement into and out of the counties of Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kambu and Nakuru effective Saturday March 27 2021. Uhuru announced tough new measures to curb Covid-19, saying that he took this decision after the numbers escalated tremendously especially in the 5 counties from January this year.
How the ban has affected travellers
The move has left many travellers stranded on either side of the two countries, with several businesses at the Busia border point now paralysed. A bus operator with Simba telecom Jafari Owour told the Daily Monitor that they are stuck with many passengers, majority of whom were travelling from Kampala to Nairobi.
“Most of our passengers do advance booking and by the time the travel ban was issued, many had already paid for their tickets,” said Mr Owour. Mr Owour added that they were forced to make refunds to 50 travellers, and some are waiting to get their money, majority of whom were travelling to Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru.
Nema Nakidde Ugandan married to a Kenyan told African Press that she came back to Uganda on Tuesday 23 to attend her mother’s funeral. And that she was supposed to go back to Nairobi on Monday because she left her one year daughter with her husband.
“I am so confused because my daughter is still a baby, she needs me and my husband only asked for a week off at his work to take care of our baby,” said Nakidde. Many travelers are wondering why Kenya ordered a ban on public transport in the five counties and yet people who travel by air are traveling freely.
The effect of the ban on businesses
YallAfrica reported that a clearing agent at Busia border revealed that since the ban was imposed, no bus from Kampala or Nairobi had arrived at the border, something he said has started taking a toll on local businesses. Moneychangers at Busia and Malaba borders are also saying that their businesses have been affected so much due to the fact that very few travellers are arriving at the border. And many other businesses in Busia town are affected because some of their customers are from Nairobi.
Covid-19 situation in Kenya
Kenya’s authorities are worried by the rise in new Covi-19 infections. Health experts reported a jump in confirmed cases of Covid-19 with hospitals struggling to find enough beds for the patients needing treatment.
The spike in Covid-19 has left several people in need of intensive care, especially oxygen support. Kenya has recorded more than 14,000 Covid-19 positive cases since March 1st, including more than 1,100 cases and 25 deaths on Tuesday last week. The country recently began vaccinating the population, after receiving 1.1 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses, but only 40,000 people have received the jabs.
