Kenya has announced that Russia has agreed to stop accepting Kenyan nationals into its armed forces following growing concerns that hundreds of citizens had been drawn into the war in Ukraine.
The announcement was made in Moscow by Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi after bilateral discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Mudavadi said the understanding reached with Russian authorities means Kenyan citizens will no longer be able to enlist in the Russian military through the country’s defence ministry.
The issue has become increasingly sensitive in Kenya after security agencies earlier this year warned that large numbers of citizens had been recruited to fight on the Russian side of the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War.
Russian officials have maintained that foreign nationals who joined the military did so voluntarily by signing contracts under Russian law. The legislation allows foreign recruits to terminate their service early if they choose.
However, several accounts have surfaced in Kenya from individuals who say they travelled abroad believing they had secured well-paying civilian jobs, only to later discover they had been enrolled into military roles linked to the conflict.
Kenyan authorities say they have been cracking down on recruitment networks suspected of exploiting job seekers. According to Mudavadi, more than 600 recruitment agencies have been shut down in recent months amid allegations that they were sending Kenyans abroad under false pretences.
Members of the Parliament of Kenya have also raised concerns that some individuals within government institutions may have collaborated with trafficking groups involved in the recruitment process.
The Kenyan government is now pushing for the return of citizens who wish to leave the conflict zone. Mudavadi confirmed that 27 Kenyans have already been repatriated, with authorities providing counselling and rehabilitation services to help them cope with the psychological effects of the war.
The total number of Kenyan casualties remains unclear. Families searching for missing relatives have said they have struggled to obtain reliable information from Russian authorities regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The matter has sparked public concern across the country. Earlier this year, relatives of individuals believed to be fighting in Ukraine gathered outside parliament in Nairobi, calling for stronger government intervention and assistance in bringing their family members home.
Mudavadi’s visit to Moscow also focused on strengthening economic relations between Kenya and Russia. Kenyan officials are seeking agreements that would allow citizens to access legitimate employment opportunities abroad without falling victim to fraudulent recruitment schemes.
Despite the controversy surrounding the war, Mudavadi emphasised that Kenya intends to maintain and expand diplomatic and economic ties with Russia in other areas of cooperation.
According to estimates from Ukrainian intelligence, recruitment of foreign fighters into Russian forces has extended across Africa, with more than 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries believed to have joined since the conflict began.
Other governments on the continent have faced similar challenges. Earlier this year, South Africa repatriated 17 nationals who said they had been misled into travelling to Russia before finding themselves trapped near front-line areas in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine itself has also faced criticism in the past over efforts to recruit foreign volunteers, including Africans, to support its own military campaign.
