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Kenyan Police have arrested a man, identified as Festus Omwamba, who was accused of recruiting fighters for Russia in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
According to Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri, the suspect was apprehended in the northern Kenyan town of Moyale, near the border with Ethiopia, while fleeing upon his return from Russia. Kenyan authorities will transport him to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city.
The suspect was identified by three Kenyan recruits who spoke to The Associated Press. One recruit, who had signed up after being told he would get a plumbing job in Russia, said Omwamba avoided texting him and other recruits who were lured into the war, instead calling them or meeting them in person.
Upon arriving in Russia, the recruit’s passport was taken away, and he was sent to a military camp for a few days before being deployed to the front line, rather than the plumbing job he was offered.
An intelligence report presented to Kenya’s parliament had revealed that the Russian Government deployed over 1000 Kenyans to fight on the side of the Russian Army against Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Kenyan Government also said at least 89 Kenyans were still on the front line, 39 were hospitalised, and 28 were missing in action. The Kenyan Government has frowned on Russia using its citizens as “cannon fodders” in the war, as its foreign minister is expected to travel to Russia to discuss the matter with the Russian Government.
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, over 1,700 Africans were recruited by Russia to fight in the war, making the recruitment of Africans to fight alongside Russian troops a source of concern on the continent.
Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said many of these recruits have no security or military background before joining the war. Discussions are reportedly ongoing among African leaders on how to curb the recruitment of Africans into the war.
