Kenya’s government says more than 200 of its citizens are fighting for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine, with officials warning that recruitment networks targeting Kenyans remain active both locally and abroad. Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi said the group includes former members of Kenya’s security forces. He noted that some of the Kenyans who have been rescued reported being forced to assemble drones and handle hazardous chemicals without training or protective equipment. President William Ruto last week asked the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to help secure the rel

Kenya’s government says more than 200 of its citizens are fighting for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine, with officials warning that recruitment networks targeting Kenyans remain active both locally and abroad. Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi said the group includes former members of Kenya’s security forces. He noted that some of the Kenyans who have been rescued reported being forced to assemble drones and handle hazardous chemicals without training or protective equipment. President William Ruto last week asked the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to help secure the release of Kenyans currently detained or trapped in the conflict zone. According to Ukrainian authorities, about 1,400 Africans are fighting alongside Russian forces, with some allegedly recruited through deception. In September, a young Kenyan athlete captured in Ukraine said he had been tricked into joining the Russian military. Mudavadi told reporters on Wednesday that recruitment drives in Russia have expanded to include foreign nationals from Africa. “Over 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian military, and recruitment networks are still active in both Kenya and Russia,” he said. Kenya’s embassy in Moscow has reported cases of injuries among Kenyan recruits. Many were allegedly promised payments of up to $18,000 to cover visa fees, travel and accommodation  offers that authorities say are used to lure young people into the conflict. The foreign minister also warned about a growing trend of Kenyans being drawn into “forced criminality” abroad, including drug trafficking and forced labour. He said these activities pose serious risks to Kenya’s national security and to global stability. In September, Kenyan security agencies rescued more than 20 people near Nairobi who were preparing to travel to Russia for military recruitment. One suspect accused of coordinating the scheme was arrested and is awaiting prosecution. Evidence gathered by international media, including the BBC, indicates that citizens of Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba and Sri Lanka are among those currently held in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps, according to Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s prisoner-of-war agency. The war in Ukraine began in February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, claiming it sought to prevent NATO from expanding closer to Russian borders. The conflict has involved many nations, with the United States and European countries supporting Ukraine, while foreign fighters from around the world have joined both sides.

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