Nairobi (KAAB TV) – The government of Kenya has confirmed that more than 200 Kenyan nationals are fighting for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine, and it has issued urgent warnings about the existence of active recruitment networks that continue to target Kenyan citizens for enlistment.
In a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi explained that “reports suggest that over two hundred Kenyans may have joined the Russian military, with some being former members of Kenya’s disciplined services.”
The statement further noted that some of those recruits have already sustained injuries, and that they were allegedly offered incentives of up to US $18,000 (roughly equivalent at the time) to cover costs for visas, travel and accommodation as part of the recruitment offers.
According to Kenya’s Foreign Ministry, the recruitment networks are operating both within Kenya and in Russia, sometimes involving agents who pose as Russian government representatives or promise non-combat job roles abroad.
The ministry reported that 21 Kenyans were rescued in a September raid near Nairobi after being prepared for deployment, having believed they were to perform civilian tasks such as drone assembly, chemical work or painting, but were instead headed for frontline service.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have said that there are more than 1,400 citizens from around 36 African countries fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine, many of whom were recruited via deceptive job offers or misleading contracts.
The Kenyan government has engaged in diplomatic talks both with Russia and Ukraine to secure the safe return of its nationals.
In October, Mudavadi announced that Kenyan and Russian foreign affairs officials had met to facilitate the release of Kenyans held in Russian military camps and ensure their passage to Kenya’s mission in Moscow.
On the Ukrainian side, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Óei visited with Ukraine’s ambassador to Kenya, seeking consular support for Kenyans reportedly captured while fighting on the Russian-frontline.
In response to the recruitment threat, Kenya has urged all its citizens—especially young people seeking overseas employment—to exercise extreme caution and diligence when assessing job offers abroad.
The Foreign Ministry specifically advised verifying the legitimacy of foreign employment contracts and consulting the ministry’s diaspora department when in doubt.
Kenya has announced stronger security measures at border points and airports to detect and prevent illegal recruitment and trafficking of young Kenyans into foreign military conflicts.
In a meeting held with the Russian ambassador in Nairobi in early October, Kenya obtained assurances from the Russian government that there would be no forced recruitment of Kenyan citizens into Russia’s security forces.