A Kenyan engineer who was captured after his colleague was killed by rebels in South Sudan has finally been set free.
The Kenyan identified as Richard Matiangi and his counterpart, also an engineer, James Kariuki, were ambushed by rebels while travelling by road to Uganda, aiming to buy construction materials on July 30, 2025.
The ambush led to the death of Kariuki, who was jointly working with Matiangi to construct the Holy Trinity Church’s primary school and parish renovations.
Their vehicle, which was set on fire, was attacked near Bazi, about three miles from Morobo town.
According to local reports, the rebels shot the vehicle with bullets that caused Kariuki’s death before Matiangi was captured and forced to accompany the rebels into the nearby jungles.
Four South Sudanese civilians were held alongside Matiangi. They walked for more than seven hours before reaching their destination. On 3 August, one of the captors, reportedly a rebel fighter, advised them to escape.
They managed to reach Morobo, where they were spotted near the church during prayers,” said Isaac Batali, chairperson of Holy Trinity Parish, in an interview with Radio Tamazuj.
Batali said Kariuki had been contracted to build the parish school and renovate the priest’s residence.
“When I arrived at the church compound that morning, I was told they had left for Uganda earlier to buy materials. Later, we learnt they had been ambushed. The car was burnt, and there were bullet holes.
Morobo County Commissioner Charles Data confirmed the ambush that was carried out against the two Kenyan nationals, leading to one death, reporting that the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers confronted the rebel group, instantly eliminating one member of the group.
The surviving Kenyan has since left South Sudan in the company of Kariuki’s body.
