The Kenyan government has confirmed that it is taking active steps to secure the release of Grace Wanza Munyao, a Kenyan truck driver kidnapped by a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Principal Secretary of the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, Roseline Njogu, announced that the government is working closely with relevant agencies to resolve the situation.

Grace Wanza Munyao was abducted by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel group and one of Kinshasa's coalition forces, on August 27 in Kiseguro town within the Binza grouping. Responding to the media on Tuesday, September 3, Njogu assured the public that the state is fully aware of the incident and is actively engaged in securing Munyao's safe return.

“We are working on the issue at the moment. That is what I can say for now,” Njogu stated, addressing concerns raised by Kenyans on social media who felt that the government's response had been inadequate.

Former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama also urged Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who oversees the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to prioritize Munyao's release. Muthama emphasized the urgency of bringing the Kenyan citizen home safely.

The abduction of Munyao highlights ongoing security challenges in Eastern DRC, where rebel groups like the FDLR continue to violate ceasefire agreements, destabilize local communities, and disrupt agricultural activities through kidnappings and looting.

The conflict in Eastern DRC has escalated over the past two decades, with recent clashes between the military and insurgent groups like the M23 and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) leading to widespread displacement. The United Nations reported that by March 2024, the number of internally displaced people in the DRC had reached 7.2 million.