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Erastus Mundia, a 38-year-old Kenyan father of three, left home in June 2025 under a government-arranged work programme linked to Russia, expecting legitimate employment. Instead, he ended up on the battlefield in Ukraine and was later confirmed dead, a case now at the centre of allegations of state-linked recruitment fraud and political complicity.
His family says Labour Minister Alfred Mutua bears responsibility for his death. Mundia’s mother, Josephine Ngoya, described the emotional toll of losing her son.
“Since I got the news, I hardly eat. I find myself in a different world.” She accused the Kenyan government and Mutua of betrayal, adding, “I feel like the Kenyan government and Alfred Mutua have betrayed us.”
Mundia was among hundreds of Kenyans reportedly recruited for civilian work in Russia, but the recruitment was later exposed as forced enlistment into the Russian military. Many were allegedly made to sign contracts under coercion, with little or no training before deployment to active war zones in Ukraine.
Kenya’s government estimates at least 291 citizens have been caught up in Russia’s “irregular military recruitment,” including 19 confirmed dead and 32 missing. However, an intelligence report seen by AFP places the number at over 1,000 and suggests possible official complicity.
Three senior sources familiar with the matter told AFP that Mutua was personally and politically involved in the recruitment programme, though these claims remain unverified independently. Mutua has not publicly responded to the allegations and declined interview requests after initially agreeing.
Rights group VOCAL Africa alleges that over 500 Kenyans have been trapped in the scheme, with about 350 families already notified of deaths. Its representative, Odhiambo Ojiro, said, “He signed all these agreements,” referring to Mutua, and accused him of prioritising profit over lives.
Public anger has intensified as families demand accountability, with some calling for Mutua’s dismissal and prosecution.
Despite the allegations, Mutua remains in office, though he was reportedly excluded from a recent government delegation to Russia linked to the crisis.
