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Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, departed for Moscow on Sunday to demand an end to the forced conscription of Kenyan nationals into the Russian military.
The urgent diplomatic mission follows harrowing reports of Kenyans being lured to Russia with promises of high-paying civilian jobs, only to be “press-ganged” into fighting on the front lines in Ukraine.
Mudavadi is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to secure a safe repatriation process for those currently trapped or hospitalised in the conflict zone.
The scale of the crisis has sparked national outrage in Kenya, with local intelligence estimating that over 1,000 citizens have already perished in the war.
Deputy Foreign Minister Abraham Korir Sing’Oei has condemned the practice, labelling the use of Kenyans as “cannon fodder” as entirely unacceptable.
Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, the Kenyan delegation also aims to establish a legitimate and transparent framework for labour mobility to ensure that future job seekers are protected from rogue recruitment syndicates and human trafficking networks.
This mission mirrors a similar effort by South Africa, which successfully repatriated 15 of its citizens from the Donbas region last month under similar circumstances.
As the conflict continues to draw in foreign nationals through deception, Nairobi is intensifying its oversight of recruitment agencies and working to provide psychological support for those who have managed to return.
The talks in Moscow are seen as a critical step in safeguarding the dignity and safety of Kenyans working abroad.
