- Kenyan aid worker Howard Kaguyira travelled far from home to help feed the hungry, but never made it back alive
- He was shot dead inside a UN compound in Nasir County, South Sudan, while coordinating food aid for vulnerable families
- The suspect, identified as Changkuoth Jok Duop, fled the scene and remained at large as authorities launched a manhunt
Howard Kaguyira had travelled to one of South Sudan’s most fragile regions with a single purpose: to help deliver food to people facing hunger and displacement.
Source: Getty Images
But before dawn broke, the Kenyan aid worker’s mission ended in tragedy when he was shot dead inside a United Nations compound.
How was Kaguyira killed?
Radio Tamazuj reports that Kaguyira, who worked with the World Food Programme (WFP), was serving as a coordinator for food airdrop operations in Ngueny village, Nasir County, Upper Nile state.
He had arrived just a day earlier with colleagues to facilitate the distribution of urgently needed food supplies to vulnerable communities.
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According to Nasir County Commissioner Changkuoth Ruon Jal, the fatal shooting occurred at around 5 am when an armed man reportedly entered the compound and opened fire.
“We do not know the motive for the killing because there had been no prior interaction between the deceased and the suspect,” Jal told the media.
He added that the suspect was reportedly intoxicated throughout the night, and police believe alcohol may have influenced the incident.
Who is the suspect in Kaguyira’s death?
The suspect, identified as Changkuoth Jok Duop, remained at large as authorities launched a manhunt. His wife and brother were detained as investigations continued.
Kaguyira’s death has sent shockwaves through the humanitarian community, where aid workers often risk their lives to reach people cut off by conflict, displacement and hunger.
As a coordinator for food airdrops, his role was critical in ensuring life-saving supplies reached communities that are otherwise inaccessible due to insecurity and poor infrastructure.
Changkuoth Wiyual, acting director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Nasir County, described the killing as a devastating loss.
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“This is a tragic loss for the communities that rely on humanitarian food assistance coordinated by the World Food Programme,” he said. “It is also a serious blow to our relief efforts.”
Source: Getty Images
Humanitarian crisis in South Sudan
South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous environments for humanitarian workers. Years of conflict, coupled with renewed fighting in recent months between government forces and opposition fighters, have forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
The United Nations estimates that about 280,000 people have been displaced since December 2025, with humanitarian operations frequently disrupted by violence, looting and insecurity.
Aid workers like Kaguyira often operate on the frontlines of this crisis, delivering assistance to people who have nowhere else to turn.
For many communities in Upper Nile state, the food airdrops he coordinated were not just supplies, they were lifelines.
Kenyan man killed in South Sudan crash
The incident brings back memories of another Kenyan man who tragically lost his life after a cargo plane delivering food to Leer county crashed, killing all three people on board.
The flight, which was carrying food for communities affected by severe flooding, crashed in Rupchier Boma, Guat Payam, on Tuesday, November 25.
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According to the acting commissioner of Leer county, Kueth Latjor, the aircraft, identified as Charter Flight 114, had been hired to transport food supplies from Juba to assist flood‑affected communities.
Source: NgGossips
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