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The Kenyan government has issued a scathing condemnation of “ruthless” recruitment networks that have tricked hundreds of citizens into fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Foreign Ministry official Korir Sing’Oei described the practice as “unacceptable,” detailing a pattern of deception where Kenyans seeking lucrative civilian roles—such as security guards, salesmen, or professional athletes—are instead forced into combat.
Once in Russia, many are coerced into signing Russian-language contracts they cannot read and are sent to the front lines as “cannon fodder” with minimal training.
The human cost of this “web of deception” has become increasingly visible in Nairobi, where families of the deceased and wounded are demanding urgent state intervention.
An investigation by AFP highlighted the harrowing accounts of survivors like “Victor,” who was promised a sales job but was instead deployed to the battlefield, only to be struck by a Ukrainian drone.
The Ukrainian government estimates that over 1,400 Africans from more than 30 countries have been similarly lured to the front lines, highlighting Russia’s growing reliance on foreign manpower to fill its depleted ranks.
In response to the crisis, Kenyan authorities have shut down over 400 “rogue” employment agencies and initiated human trafficking prosecutions against local recruiters.
Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced he would soon travel to Moscow to demand the release of Kenyans held as prisoners of war and to verify the condition of those hospitalised.
The government has already facilitated the repatriation of more than 30 citizens who managed to escape Russian military camps and seek refuge at the Kenyan embassy in Moscow.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains precarious. Recruiters often use sophisticated social media campaigns and WhatsApp groups to reassure potential migrants, sometimes threatening recruits with death or freezing their bank accounts if they attempt to warn others.
While Kenya continues to seek “genuine job opportunities” for its youth abroad to combat domestic unemployment, the government is now emphasising strict verification processes to prevent more citizens from falling into the “trap” of foreign conflicts.
