Kenyan Female Truck Driver Returns Home After Five-Month Captivity in DR Congo

Florence Wanza Munyao, a Kenyan truck driver, has returned to her home in Machakos County after enduring nearly five months of captivity by a military group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Her safe return reflects the severe risks faced by foreign nationals in this conflict-ridden region. Since the beginning of the year, clashes between the M23 rebels—allegedly supported by Rwanda—and the DR Congo army have intensified. Munyao’s ordeal began when her truck became immobilized in difficult terrain, leaving her vulnerable to an attack by militants. She describes a harrowing encounter where a soldier assaulted her while others looted her vehicle.

This harrowing incident led to a six-hour forced march to a military camp, punctuated by the sounds of gunfire, marking the start of her prolonged nightmare. The abductors demanded a ransom of Sh 1.2 million (approximately USD 10,000) from her employers, issuing chilling threats of execution if the money was not delivered promptly. Munyao recounts the deplorable living conditions she faced during her captivity, including a lack of basic hygiene and enduring uncertainty about her fate.

After two months, the military group indicated they would spare her life, recognizing her occupation. However, she remained in captivity for an additional two months, during which she underwent a gruelling 10-day journey to another camp. This phase of her ordeal included witnessing violent conflict firsthand, including the assassination of a military governor by the M23 rebels—a critical obstacle in her potential escape, as the governor had been prepared to assist with her departure.

Ultimately, intervention by the governor's brother allowed Munyao to cross into Rwanda on January 30. She subsequently travelled through Uganda before finally returning to Kenya, marking the end of a harrowing experience that tested her resilience. The situation for other truck drivers in the region remains precarious, particularly for those still trapped in Goma, now under M23 control. While the United Nations has successfully evacuated 16 drivers to Rwanda, three others remain unaccounted for.