Nairobi: Several trade unions in the transport sector have launched a joint campaign to advocate better working conditions, fair pay, and enhanced safety for long-distance truck drivers operating across Kenya and Uganda.
According to Kenya News Agency, the unions involved in this initiative include the Transport Workers Union Kenya (TAWU), the Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LDDCA), the Kenya Heavy Commercial Vehicle Operators Society (KHCVOPS), and Uganda’s Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union (ATGWU). These organizations are encouraging drivers to register with social protection schemes, such as the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Speaking at the Malaba border during the national launch of labour and social protection for long-distance truck drivers, the trade unions urged employers to adhere to statutory minimum wages. They also called on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to conduct regular inspections in the sector and enforce compliance with statutory minimum regulations to prevent exploitation of truck drivers.
The unions have advocated for the reinstatement of turnboys (assistants) to help mitigate fatigue and health issues affecting long-distance drivers, who are forced to drive long hours and distances, and occasionally encounter delays at the border points with long queues of trucks awaiting clearances. They also urged member states along the Northern Corridor to address Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to ensure faster and easier movement of trucks, while appreciating the Kenyan government for reducing security checkpoints that were causing unnecessary delays.
TAWU General Secretary Nicholus Otieno stated that the trade unions are working towards establishing a sectoral Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA), inspired by a successful model in South Africa, to ensure harmonized pay across the industry. He expressed concern over arbitrary salary deductions for fuel consumption and criticized the widespread practice of paying salaries via mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, noting that off-the-record digital transfers leave drivers underpaid, obscure audit trails, and hinder enrollment in SHA and NSSF.
Dennis Oloro, National Chairman of Uganda’s Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union (ATGWU), praised the campaign, noting that social protection is important for transport workers who will eventually retire and need financial support. He encouraged drivers to join trade unions for stronger bargaining power and representation to address the challenges they face.
On the safety of drivers, KHCVOPS President Sudi Kauli Mwatela urged the East African Community (EAC) to establish a joint security team along the Northern Corridor, particularly in high-risk zones like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where drivers face harassment and fatal attacks.
LDDCA Chairman Elijah Nyagah called on regional leaders to recognize the crucial economic contributions of long-distance truck drivers and take decisive action to safeguard their well-being. He emphasized that the transport industry plays a critical role in moving goods across the Northern Corridor, yet long-distance truck drivers are often overlooked and subjected to poor working conditions that affect their mental health. Nyagah highlighted the need to address these challenges so that drivers can work comfortably.
