Kenyans Misled into Joining Russian Military Efforts in Ukraine, Warns Foreign Ministry

Kenyans have been «enticed» by recruiters to join the Russian military efforts in Ukraine, according to a statement released by the Kenyan Foreign Ministry on Monday.

The statement, which was signed by Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi, revealed that numerous individuals have found themselves detained in military facilities throughout Russia.

While the statement did not specify the number of recruits involved, it did not mention how many have been detained or injured either.

The Foreign Ministry indicated that it had a «critical meeting» with Russian officials last month aimed at facilitating their release and return to Kenya.

The ministry emphasized that Kenyans are being «enticed by unscrupulous and merciless agents to travel to Russia, where they often unknowingly become part of the Russian military operations.»

It also pointed out that «the situation is complicated by agents posing as representatives of the Russian government, employing deceitful tactics, including misleading information, to draw innocent Kenyans into conflict zones.»

Russia has faced numerous allegations of misleading individuals from impoverished nations into signing military contracts written in Russian, a language they do not comprehend.

Given the pervasive poverty and limited job prospects in Kenya, local reports have highlighted Russian recruitment networks specifically targeting underprivileged young men, with many asserting they were deceived or coerced into combat once they arrived.

This week, The Nation newspaper spoke with a former Kenyan soldier who voluntarily joined a Russian mercenary group.

Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Kenya’s intention to establish a labor agreement with Russia, aimed at providing Kenyans with access to «authentic employment opportunities in Russia.»