Busia Border Chokes as Scanner Failure Traps Trucks in Five-Kilometre Queue

Hundreds of truck drivers are counting mounting losses after the failure of a cargo scanner brought operations at the Busia border to a crawl.

The breakdown reportedly produced a queue stretching nearly five kilometres into Kenya, with some drivers transporting goods as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The scanner helps customs officials inspect cargo for undeclared or prohibited goods without manually unloading every vehicle.

For drivers, the delay means extra spending on meals, parking and security. Traders carrying time-sensitive goods also face the possibility of spoiled products and missed delivery deadlines.

The disruption highlights the growing pressure on infrastructure at one of East Africa’s busiest border crossings. Busia officials have previously called for the expansion of the border facility to accommodate increasing volumes of people and cargo.

No firm repair timeline had been publicly announced by publication time. Until the scanner returns to service or an alternative inspection system is introduced, congestion along this vital regional trade corridor could continue.