Truck Driver Killed as Sh8m Coffee Cargo Disappears in Burnt Forest

A 42-year-old truck driver transporting coffee from Uganda to Mombasa has been found murdered in Uasin Gishu County, with his cargo stolen

Musyoki Kilundo was reported missing on 22 January after failing to respond to calls from his family. His body was discovered the following day in Bayete Forest near Burnt Forest, a short distance from his abandoned truck. Police said he had been hanged, and the consignment of coffee beans he was carrying was missing.

According to his wife, Eunice Musenya, Kilundo had called her earlier that afternoon, as he often did, to ask what groceries to bring home. She said she became alarmed when repeated attempts to reach him later in the day were unsuccessful.

The next morning, she was informed that his body had been found. Police at Kesses Station recorded the incident under OB2/23/1/2026. Officers reported that the truck, registration number KDB 364A, had been left on the roadside, with the driver’s body found nearby. Investigators are examining how the Kenya Revenue Authority cargo tracking seal was disabled and why the transport company was not alerted promptly.

Fellow drivers have questioned several aspects of the case. They noted that trucks carrying coffee rarely travel at night and raised concerns about how the tracking system could have been interfered with without triggering an immediate alarm. Some also questioned whether the scene was properly documented before the vehicle was moved to the police station.

The Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) condemned the killing and warned that it reflects a wider pattern of attacks on drivers carrying high-value goods. The association said at least ten similar incidents have been reported in the past five months, resulting in loss of life and significant financial losses. KTA has called for the suspension of night-time transport of sensitive cargo, pointing to existing restrictions on fuel transport as an effective model.

Private security firms have also issued warnings. On 23 January, SGA Security Kenya advised drivers to avoid night travel in sections considered high risk, including the Turbo–Webuye and Eldoret–Mau Summit routes. The firm, which monitors container movements between Malaba and Mombasa, cited an increase in theft and hijacking incidents.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has acknowledged the threat facing truck drivers. Days before Kilundo’s death, detectives in Rabai announced the arrest of three suspects accused of attacking drivers along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway.