NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan truck drivers are reportedly among six truckers who were captured by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), prompting the Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association of Kenya (LoDCA) to issue a security alert over escalating insecurity along a major transport corridor.
In an alert issued on Wednesday, October 14, the association warned drivers about heightened security risks along the Mahagi-to-Kisangani route, which passes through Pimbo, Djugu, Igabriel and Bunia.
LoDCA said reports of rebel activity and insecurity along the corridor had raised concerns over the safety of truckers transporting goods through the affected areas.
“Serious security concerns have been reported along the route from Mahagi to Kisangani, passing through Pimbo, Djugu, Igabriel and Bunia,” the association stated.
However, LoDCA later indicated that the six drivers, including Kenyans, had been found safe and sound. The circumstances surrounding their reported capture and subsequent recovery remained unclear.
“Reports indicate that six drivers, including Kenyans, had been captured by rebels but have since been found safe and sound,” the association added.
LoDCA Warns Drivers Against Travelling Through Unsafe Routes
The association also raised concerns over reports that dozens of people had been killed on Wednesday, pointing to the worsening security situation facing transporters operating along the corridor.
Images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke reportedly showed trucks with broken windows, deflated tyres and removed number plates. What appeared to be remnants of cargo were scattered on the ground, with no people visible in the images.
LoDCA advised drivers waiting in Mahagi not to proceed until security conditions had been confirmed safe.
Those already inside the DRC were urged to inform their relatives, colleagues and association leaders of their whereabouts.
The association further advised drivers to remain in secure locations, stay alert and avoid affected routes until reliable security sources confirmed that travel was safe.
Previous Attacks Raise Fears Among Kenyan Truckers
The latest alert comes amid a series of reported attacks on Kenyan truck drivers and cargo along transport routes in the DRC.
In January, unrest along the Kasumbalesa, Lubumbashi and Kolwezi corridor in southern DRC saw cargo trucks torched and transport routes blocked during violent demonstrations.
In April, Kenyan driver Edwin Njuguna was killed in Bunia, prompting LoDCA to warn that repeated attacks could force transporters to suspend operations. A separate detention incident in Beni also raised concerns about accountability and driver safety.
In August, four Kenyan drivers and their co-drivers were reportedly killed by suspected rebels along the Beni-to-Kisangani route. The killings prompted truckers to park their trailers in Mambasa, Ituri Province, amid heightened security fears.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns over the risks faced by drivers transporting goods through areas affected by armed violence and instability.
Kenyan Security Agencies Yet To Issue Statement
LoDCA’s latest warning places renewed focus on the safety of Kenyan transporters operating in eastern DRC, where insecurity has disrupted movement along key commercial routes.
The association urged drivers to prioritise their safety and wait for reliable security guidance before resuming journeys through the affected areas.
