Mr_Rajkamal Russia Agrees to Stop Recruiting Kenyan Fighters for Ukraine War, Kenya Says
Moscow/Nairobi: Russia has agreed to stop recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight in the war in Ukraine, according to Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi following high-level talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns that hundreds of Kenyan nationals were being recruited into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, often after being promised well-paid civilian jobs abroad.
Kenyan Citizens Will No Longer Be Enlisted
Speaking after the meeting, Mudavadi said the two governments had reached an agreement that Kenyan nationals would no longer be eligible for recruitment through Russia’s defence ministry.
“They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted,” Mudavadi said, confirming that both countries had agreed to stop the deployment of Kenyan nationals in the Ukraine war.
However, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not directly comment on the agreement. He maintained that all foreign fighters who joined Russian forces had done so voluntarily and in full compliance with Russian law.
Over 1,000 Kenyans Reportedly Recruited
A Kenyan intelligence report released earlier this year warned that more than 1,000 Kenyan citizens had been recruited to fight for Russian forces in Ukraine.
Many recruits said they were misled with promises of lucrative jobs overseas, only to discover that they had been placed directly into combat roles in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The issue has triggered public outrage in Kenya as families demanded answers about missing relatives believed to be fighting on the battlefield.
Kenya Seeks Return of Citizens From War Zone
Kenyan authorities are now working to bring back citizens who wish to return home from the conflict.
According to Mudavadi, 27 Kenyans have already been repatriated after fighting for Russian forces. Those returning are receiving psychological support and counselling to help them recover from trauma experienced during the war.
The Kenyan government is also investigating recruitment agencies suspected of deceiving citizens with fake job offers abroad.
Last month authorities shut down more than 600 recruitment agencies believed to be involved in human-trafficking networks that targeted Kenyans for military recruitment.
Families Protest Over Missing Fighters
Public pressure has continued to grow in Kenya as families demand information about their relatives believed to be fighting in Ukraine.
In February, relatives of suspected recruits held a protest outside parliament in Nairobi calling on the government to secure the safe return of their family members.
Several families also said they had approached the Russian embassy in Nairobi seeking answers but were turned away without information.
Foreign Fighters in the Ukraine War
According to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, more than 1,700 fighters from 36 African countries have been recruited by Russia since the war began.
The use of foreign fighters has been widely criticised by human rights groups and lawmakers across Africa.
At the same time, Ukraine has also faced criticism for attempts to recruit foreign nationals to fight on its side of the conflict.
Kenya and Russia Seek Broader Cooperation
Despite tensions over the recruitment issue, Kenya says it still wants to maintain a broader partnership with Russia.
Mudavadi said discussions during his Moscow visit also focused on improving employment opportunities for Kenyan workers in Russia.
“We do not want our relationship with Russia to be defined only by the Ukraine war,” Mudavadi said.
He added that Kenya hopes to strengthen economic cooperation while ensuring that its citizens are protected from exploitation.
FAQs
Why were Kenyans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war?
Many Kenyans said they were promised well-paid civilian jobs abroad but were later forced into military roles fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine.
How many Kenyans have been recruited for the war?
Kenyan intelligence estimates that more than 1,000 citizens were recruited to fight for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Has Russia agreed to stop recruiting Kenyans?
Yes. Kenya’s foreign minister says Russia has agreed that Kenyan nationals will no longer be eligible for recruitment through the Russian defence ministry.
How many Kenyans have returned home from the war?
So far, 27 Kenyans have been repatriated and are receiving psychological care after returning from the conflict.
