Internet network failure strands hundreds of trucks at border

A crippling network breakdown at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has brought cross-border trade between Kenya and Uganda to a grinding halt, leaving hundreds of truck drivers stuck in long, immobile queues at key border points.

For the past two weeks, the situation has been dire, with the disruption affecting both imports and exports, causing economic losses that continue to escalate each passing day.

The scene at the Busia, Malaba, and Lwakhakha borders is chaotic. At the Busia border, the queue of trucks stretches nearly five kilometers along the Busia-Jinja Highway, with many more vehicles parked in nearby yards and filling every available space.

Drivers, who have been stuck for days without a clear timeline for when the situation will improve, express frustration as they wait in scorching heat with no access to basic amenities.

The situation is even worse at Malaba, where the queue of trucks snakes along the Malaba-Bugiri highway for about seven kilometers. The air is thick with the sound of revving engines and drivers’ heated conversations, as they grapple with the reality of an unexpected standstill in what should be one of the busiest trade corridors in East Africa.

John Okello, a truck driver who transports maize flour to Uganda, has been stuck at the Malaba border for over a week. He describes the experience as nothing short of a nightmare.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he says, visibly exhausted. “We are losing time, money, and patience. We depend on these trips for our livelihoods, and every day we are stuck here means another day without pay. We are sleeping in our trucks, running out of food and water. It feels like we have been forgotten.”

Economic Impact of the Breakdown

The breakdown at KRA has halted the digital systems used for processing clearance documents, which are essential for the movement of goods across borders. Without this network, the customs clearance process has come to a complete standstill, leaving goods worth millions of dollars stranded in transit.

The economic impact of this disruption is vast, affecting not only truck drivers and exporters but also small businesses and local communities that rely on timely deliveries of goods.

An economic analyst, James Odhiambo, provides insight into the broader implications of this situation.

“The network failure at KRA is a major blow to the region’s economy,” he explains. “Kenya and Uganda are key trading partners, and any disruption at these borders creates a ripple effect throughout the supply chain. Exporters are losing out on potential revenue, importers are facing delays in receiving essential goods, and ultimately, consumers bear the brunt of increased prices and shortages. The longer this disruption continues, the more severe the economic consequences will be.”

According to Odhiambo, the congestion at the borders is also a logistical nightmare. “When hundreds of trucks are stuck, it creates a backlog that could take weeks to clear, even after the system is restored. This is particularly challenging for perishable goods like fresh produce and dairy products, which can spoil quickly in the heat. The loss of such goods not only affects exporters but also threatens food security in the region.”

Truck Drivers Struggle with Basic Needs

As the standoff continues, truck drivers are bearing the brunt of the disruption, dealing with deteriorating conditions at the border points. Many have resorted to cooking by the roadside, pooling their limited resources to buy food and water. With no designated rest areas or sanitation facilities, hygiene has become a growing concern. Drivers like Peter Njoroge, who transports construction materials from Mombasa to Kampala, are finding it hard to cope.

“We are spending our days and nights in these trucks,” Njoroge laments. “There are no toilets, no water, nothing. We have to rely on the kindness of locals who sometimes bring us food, but this is not sustainable. We are exposed to all kinds of dangers here — from theft to health risks. It’s an unacceptable situation, and we don’t know when it will end.”

Njoroge also points out the financial strain the delay is causing. “Every day we are stuck here, we are incurring extra costs. The fuel we are using just to keep our engines running for air conditioning, the food, everything comes out of our pockets. And when we finally get through, our employers will deduct the costs of these delays from our payments. It’s a lose-lose situation for us.”

Local businesses that depend on cross-border trade are also feeling the pinch. From small-scale traders who export goods like maize, sugar, and fruits to larger manufacturers who ship products across the region, the impact has been devastating. The delays have forced some exporters to find alternative routes, often at a higher cost, while others have had to halt operations altogether.

Sarah Ouma, a maize exporter based in Eldoret, says the disruption has severely affected her business. “We had several consignments of maize destined for Uganda that have been stuck at the border for over a week. The waiting time is causing the quality of the maize to deteriorate, and we might have to deal with significant losses. We’ve been trying to get information from the KRA, but there’s no clear timeline for when the system will be restored.”

The economic slowdown is also affecting border towns like Busia and Malaba, where local traders depend heavily on the flow of goods and services. Shops, restaurants, and service providers that cater to truck drivers and other travelers are reporting a sharp decline in business.

With no immediate resolution in sight, stakeholders are calling on the KRA and other relevant authorities to urgently address the situation. Drivers, business owners, and trade unions are demanding a contingency plan to prevent such disruptions in the future and minimize economic losses.

Economic analyst James Odhiambo suggests that the government should prioritize creating a more resilient system to handle such technical failures. “There needs to be a backup plan, a manual process that can kick in when the digital systems fail. This is not the first time we’ve seen such disruptions, and it won’t be the last. The region’s economy cannot afford to be held hostage by technical glitches.”

He also calls for better facilities and support systems for truck drivers who are often the unsung heroes of the supply chain. “Drivers need basic amenities at border points — safe rest areas, sanitation facilities, and access to food and water. These are essential workers, and their well-being should be a priority if we want to maintain the smooth flow of goods across our borders.”

A Waiting Game as Trade Losses Mount

As the days go by, the economic toll of the network breakdown continues to rise. Exporters, truck drivers, and local businesses are left in limbo, waiting for a resolution that seems slow to come. The sight of endless queues of trucks at the borders has become a stark reminder of how vulnerable the region’s trade infrastructure is to system failures.

For now, the drivers at Busia, Malaba, and Lwakhakha can do little but wait — engines idling, goods sitting idle, and hopes of resuming their journeys dwindling with each passing day. The question remains: How long will it take for the system to be restored, and what lessons will be learned from this costly disruption?

As the KRA works to resolve the technical issues, the incident serves as a wake-up call for both the authorities and the trade community. It highlights the urgent need for robust, reliable systems that can keep the wheels of trade moving smoothly, even in the face of unexpected challenges. Until then, the trucks remain parked, the goods remain stuck, and the losses keep piling up.