Kenyans working as truck drivers in the United States could face fresh uncertainty after President Donald Trump announced a new programme aimed at replacing foreign truck drivers with American military veterans.
The move is part of a broader effort by his administration to increase job opportunities for veterans while tightening immigration enforcement in the commercial transport sector.
President Trump unveiled the Freedom Hauliers Initiative during an event at the White House attended by trucking industry leaders.
He said the programme would help experienced military veterans move into trucking jobs more quickly while also improving safety on American roads.
Speaking during the launch, Trump said his administration was taking steps to remove illegal foreign truck drivers from U.S. highways and replace them with American veterans.
He argued that the new policy was long overdue and would create more employment opportunities for former members of the military.
Under the new initiative, veterans who gained experience driving heavy vehicles during their military service will be allowed to skip the Commercial Driver’s Licence road-skills test.
Some veterans may also qualify for a waiver of the written knowledge examination, making it easier for them to enter the trucking industry.
Veterans without previous truck-driving experience will also benefit from accelerated training programmes that the Trump administration says can be completed within a few weeks.
The administration believes the faster training process will help fill trucking jobs while supporting former service members looking for employment.
Alongside the initiative, the administration announced stricter enforcement measures targeting commercial drivers who fail English-language requirements or who obtained their licences through illegal means. Officials say these measures are intended to strengthen road safety and ensure that drivers meet all legal standards before operating commercial vehicles.
The policy could have an impact on some members of the Kenyan diaspora living in the United States.
Various U.S. and diaspora estimates place the Kenyan population in America at between 122,000 and 164,000 people. Although many work in different professions, some Kenyans have built careers as commercial truck drivers and could be affected by the new employment and licensing rules.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the Trump administration has already removed more than 24,000 foreign commercial drivers from American roads.
The president also referred to several fatal crashes that he said involved undocumented commercial drivers, arguing that stronger enforcement is necessary to improve highway safety.
The latest announcement reflects another step in President Trump’s wider immigration agenda, which has focused on stricter enforcement and giving greater priority to American workers in employment opportunities.
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