The family of a Kenyan driver who has spent almost two years in a South Sudanese ‘prison’ is appealing for help to secure his freedom.
Mohamed Abukar Mumin, 36, was arrested on November 7, 2021, after the fuel tanker he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with a Toyota Noah at Amii Junction, about 75km from the South Sudan border.
He was driving from Nimule border to Juba, carrying 40,000 litres of super petrol.
All 11 occupants in the Toyota Noah died on the spot.
Angry residents torched the fuel tanker and were baying for Mumin’s blood, forcing him to flee to save his life.
He was rescued by a good Samaritan who helped him into his car and drove him to Nimule police station, where he is being held to date.
Nimule is a city in the southern part of South Sudan in Magwi county, Eastern Equatoria.
It lies approximately 197km by road, southeast of Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Speaking to the Star on the phone, Mumin said he is grateful to be alive and urged Kenyan authorities to come to his rescue.
“I want to get out of here. I'm suffering,” Mumin said.
On August 10, he was sentenced to eight years in jail by a ‘court’ and an additional fine of a million pounds (approximately Sh182.9 million).
“The court here is different. They only listen to the complainant and ask them what they want done to the accused,” Mumin told the Star.
The Kenyan ambassador to South Sudan has visited him three times and got him a lawyer, according to Mumin.
Kenyan truck drivers are the ones that feed him, passing by to give him food every day and treatment costs occasionally.
The police station where he is being held is along the highway.
His brother Ahmedey Jerer told the Star on the phone that they have paid over Sh18 million in fines and damages but they are still asked to pay more.
“We have been contributing as a family and as truck drivers but they always ask for more. It has become a money minting venture for them. It is now better they hang him and use the money to help his family. We are tired,” Jerer said.
Mumin has a wife and six children aged between three and 16 years. They live in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county.
Jerer said a group of truck drivers have been contributing about Sh40,000 each month for Mumin’s wife and children upkeep.
Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union chairman Roman Waema urged the Kenyan government to intervene.
He said, “If there is some kind of prisoner exchange programme that can be used, let it be used. Our brother is suffering there.”
Waema said Kenya and South Sudan cannot only cooperate in trade yet there are human rights issues being violated.
“We cannot speak in one language when it comes to trade but speak different languages when it comes to social issues like this. It is wrong and Kenyan authorities must do more to save Mumin,” he said.
Waema warned that if push comes to shove, they will be forced to boycott South Sudan.
“We will pull our trucks away from South Sudan. If they will be having goods coming through Kenya, they will have to come and pick them on their own,” Waema explained.
He said EALA MPs from Kenya should take up the matter.
