Kenya says Russia has agreed to stop accepting Kenyan nationals into its armed forces following concerns that hundreds of Kenyans had been drawn into the war in Ukraine.
The announcement was made in Moscow by Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, after talks with Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister.
Mudavadi explained that the new understanding with Russia means Kenyans will no longer be able to join the Russian military through its defence ministry.
The issue has become increasingly sensitive in Kenya after security agencies warned earlier this year that many citizens had been recruited to fight on the Russian side of the war against Ukraine.
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Russian authorities maintain that foreign nationals serving in their military signed contracts willingly and according to Russian law, which allows them to terminate their service early if they choose.
However, several Kenyans have claimed they travelled abroad believing they had secured well-paid civilian jobs, only to discover they had been recruited for military roles connected to the Ukraine war.
Kenyan authorities say they have begun dismantling networks suspected of exploiting job seekers. According to Mudavadi, more than 600 recruitment agencies have been shut down in recent months over allegations they were sending Kenyans abroad under false pretences.
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Members of Kenya’s parliament have also raised concerns that some officials within government institutions may have collaborated with trafficking networks involved in the recruitment process.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan government is pushing for the return of its citizens who want to leave the conflict. Mudavadi revealed that 27 Kenyans have already been repatriated, with authorities providing counselling and rehabilitation to help them recover from the psychological impact of the war.
The exact number of Kenyan casualties remains unknown, and families searching for missing relatives say they have struggled to obtain information from Russian authorities.
Public anger has been growing in Kenya. Earlier this year, families of those believed to be fighting in Ukraine gathered outside parliament in Nairobi to demand stronger government action to bring their loved ones home.
Mudavadi’s visit to Moscow is also aimed at strengthening economic cooperation. Kenya hopes to secure agreements that will allow its citizens to access legitimate job opportunities in Russia without falling victim to fraudulent recruitment schemes.
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Estimates from Ukrainian intelligence suggest the recruitment of foreign fighters has extended across Africa, with over 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries believed to have joined Russian forces since the war began.
Other African nations have faced similar challenges. Earlier this year, South Africa repatriated 17 citizens who said they were misled into travelling to Russia and later found themselves near the front lines in eastern Ukraine.
