A Kenyan engineer who was abducted in South Sudan’s Morobo County has been freed after several weeks.
Identified as Richard Matiangi, the Engineer was abducted after his colleague was killed in an armed ambush in South Sudan.
Local officials and church leaders confirmed on Wednesday, August 13, that Richard Matiangi, who was kidnapped on July 30, was released the previous week.
He was let go alongside four South Sudanese civilians.
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What was the Kenyan Engineer Doing in South Sudan
Matiangi and his fellow Kenyan engineer, James Kariuki, were travelling by road to Uganda to purchase construction materials.
The material would be used for the Holy Trinity Church’s primary school and parish renovations when their vehicle was attacked near Bazi, about three miles from Morobo town.
According to witnesses, assailants opened fire on the car, fatally shooting Kariuki before setting the vehicle on fire. Matiangi was abducted and taken deep into the bush.
“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.
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Brought Back to Kenya
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 learned they had been ambushed. The car was burned, and there were bullet holes
. James was found dead inside. We only recovered his body at the roadside,” Batali recounted.
Additionally, Morobo County Commissioner Charles Data confirmed the details of the ambush, saying South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers engaged the attackers, killing one of them.
However, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and authorities have not identified the armed faction involved. Several rebel groups, including the SPLA-IO and the National Salvation Front, are known to operate in the region.
Following his release, Matiangi accompanied Kariuki’s body back to Kenya for burial.
Local officials in Sudan have been reported to have helped him obtain new travel documents after his were destroyed during the attack.
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