Kenyan Truck Driver Killed After Hijacking in Bunia

Ituri, April 15, 2026 - A Kenyan truck driver, Edwin Njuguna Ngugi, was killed in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a hijacking incident that has raised concerns about security conditions along key transport routes.

Njuguna, who originated from the Busia region of Kenya, had reportedly warned his family about deteriorating security conditions shortly before his death. In a conversation on April 2, 2026, he indicated that he had entered a high-risk area and feared for his safety after encountering armed individuals attempting to rob him.

According to accounts from relatives, the driver initially avoided an attack after the arrival of Congolese soldiers. However, in a subsequent development, he reportedly sought protection from the same soldiers when he feared further threats.

Family members allege that instead of providing protection, the soldiers took his money and left the scene, abandoning him in a vulnerable situation. These claims have not been independently verified.

Communication with Njuguna was lost on April 3, when his phone became unreachable. Several days later, fellow Kenyan drivers traveling through Bunia discovered his body along a roadside. They documented the scene and circulated the information through transport networks in an effort to identify him and locate his family.

Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have been killed by armed assailants who also looted the cargo he was transporting. His body was later transferred to a local hospital in Bunia, while the truck was found abandoned and damaged.

Njuguna’s family was informed of his death approximately 10 days later. They have since appealed to the Kenyan authorities for assistance in repatriating his body, citing financial and logistical challenges in traveling to the DRC.

The incident underscores ongoing security challenges faced by transport operators in eastern DRC, where armed groups and criminal activity continue to pose risks along major trade corridors.