Additional Coverage:
Kenya and Russia End Controversial Military Recruitment Program Amid Human Trafficking Concerns
Nairobi/Moscow – In a significant development, Kenya and Russia announced Monday an agreement to halt the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into the Russian military for deployment in Ukraine. The decision follows a concerning Kenyan intelligence report detailing how over 1,000 individuals, including many Kenyans, were allegedly duped into front-line service through “rogue” human trafficking agencies.
The February report painted a grim picture, indicating that among the Kenyans recruited, 10 had died, 28 were missing, and 39 had been hospitalized. Others remain actively engaged in the conflict on Russia’s behalf, according to The Kenyan Daily Post.
Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, speaking at a news conference, confirmed the new understanding: “We have agreed that Kenyans will no longer be enlisted for special operations through the defense ministry. They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted.”
This diplomatic move also paves the way for a labor agreement aimed at safeguarding Kenyans employed in Russia, particularly in the drone manufacturing sector. This agreement is expected to extend protections to individuals working directly for the military or in related industries. Mudavadi informed The BBC that Kenyan authorities have already shut down over 600 agencies accused of falsely luring Kenyans with promises of lucrative jobs in Russia and other nations, many of whom ultimately found themselves in Ukraine.
Despite these revelations, Russia has yet to provide answers to concerned relatives at its embassy in Kenya or directly address reports of human traffickers deceiving individuals into military service with false promises of well-paying jobs.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, present at the news conference, maintained that all foreign fighters, including those from Kenya, had volunteered for service and were not coerced or lied to. He asserted that their service complied with Russian law. “Once a contract is terminated, the individual is no longer bound and is free to make their own decisions,” Lavrov stated, though Kenyans who volunteer for the war are reportedly responsible for finding and funding their own journey home.
The issue of foreign nationals in the conflict has also been raised by Ukraine. In November, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha alleged that Russia had sent at least 1,400 individuals from 36 African countries to Ukraine, with many subsequently captured as prisoners of war.