Body of Slain Kenyan Driver Edwin Njunguna Returned from DRC
The body of Kenyan truck driver Edwin Njunguna, who was killed in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been returned to Kenya.
Njunguna, a resident of Malaba, was on his first trip to the DRC when he was attacked. Reports indicate that his truck broke down in an area considered dangerous, leaving him exposed to armed assailants. He contacted his family and described how he had narrowly escaped an earlier attack.
Although Congolese military personnel initially responded, they later left the scene, after which he was attacked. Fellow Kenyan drivers later found his body in the bush.
His remains arrived in Bungoma on Sunday, 19 April, following requests by his family for government support. The Kenya Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association confirmed that the body would be preserved locally as burial arrangements continue.
Leaders and members of the public have expressed sympathy with the family. Bungoma county governor aspirant Arthur Amug Osiya visited the family and described the incident as a reminder of the risks faced by civilians working outside the country. Other Kenyans also shared messages of condolence and called for recognition of Njunguna’s efforts to ensure his body was returned home.
The incident highlights the risks faced by drivers operating in unstable regions. There have been increasing reports of harassment and violence against Kenyan drivers in the DRC. In one recent case, footage showed a police officer confronting stranded drivers and demanding documents.
Burial preparations are ongoing, as his family and the wider community continue to mourn.
