Trucks at the Nimule Customs yard | Credit | Deng Daniel

The chairperson of the Kenya Transporters’ Association has advised all its drivers to suspend their movements to South Sudan.

This came after last week’s road ambush on Juba-Nimule highway that left at least four people dead, including two reverend sisters.

Kenyan truck drivers have now been told not to risk their lives by continuing to deliver goods and services to South Sudan.

The association says there is currently no security assurance as the country is highly volatile.

In a statement seen by Eye Radio, the association said it was alarmed by increased lawlessness and insecurity along the Juba-Nimule highway.

“We wish to advise all transporters not to risk the lives of their drivers and their trucks by continuing to offer transports service to South Sudan as the country remains highly volatile,” Wang’oo said.

It stated that several of its drivers have died and trucks either burnt or vandalized along the roads.

The Kenyan Transporters chairperson advised drivers who are already en route to South Sudan to drop their goods at the customs yard at Elegu border.

Wang’oo called on the government of South Sudan “to immediately take measures to protect the drivers and their trucks already in the country”.

This is the second time this year the transporters association is advising against travels to South Sudan.

In April 2021, unidentified gunmen attacked passenger vehicles and trucks along the Juba-Nimule Road, reportedly killing two Kenyan truck drivers whose vehicles were burnt in the violence.

South Sudan, a land-locked country depends almost entirely on imports largely from Kenya and Uganda.