Russian behind recruitment of Kenyans to fight in Ukraine arrested
Detectives say Mike Lyapin, an employee of the Russian embassy in Nairobi, who first came to Kenya on March 6, 2017, was arrested in Nairobi as he planned to hide after learning he was being sought after.
Detectives have arrested a male Russian national, alleged to have a key role in the cartel undertaking the illegal and forceful recruitment of Kenyans to the Russian military.
The suspect, Mike Lyapin, was arrested Thursday evening and booked at Muthaiga Police cells, awaiting arraignment.
His arrest came hours after DCI detectives rescued 21 Kenyans from rented apartments in Athi River, where they were unknowingly being processed to travel to Russia.
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Detectives say Lyapin, an employee of the Russian embassy in Nairobi, who first came to Kenya on March 6, 2017, was arrested in Nairobi as he planned to hide after learning he was being sought after.
Plans are underway to deport him. He is expected to leave the country later this afternoon for Moscow.
Meanwhile, the detectives are questioning the 21 Kenyans rescued on Wednesday for further leads in the hope to nab more suspects and ending the cycle of criminality that has seen some Kenyans, desperate for jobs abroad, get forcefully recruited into the Russian army and deployed on the frontlines where they get killed and others injured.
Edward Kamau Gituku, who is alleged to have been coordinating the processing of the victims that were scheduled to travel on diverse dates between this month and next month for enlistment in the military under the guise of lucrative jobs abroad, was also arrested and arraigned in court on Friday.
Detectives have been given 10 days to detain him as they conclude their investigations.
The victims disclosed to detectives that they had signed an agreement with an unnamed overseas employment support agency binding them to pay Sh1.65 million- Sh2.31 million for visas, travel, accommodation, and logistics.
"Those who fail to pay within 35days are charged a one per cent daily penalty," they added.
A section of the victims also indicated that they had already paid deposits ranging from Sh50 to Sh100 K upon being promised a salary of Sh200,000.
During the raid, the officers recovered documents suggesting high-level recruitment activities, including a one-year partnership between Global Face Human Resource Ltd and Ecopillars Manpower Ltd to recruit, screen, and deploy Kenyans to Russia.
"Also recovered were cheque books, travel documents, and job offer letters from different countries," the DCI added, noting that preliminary investigations point to a well-coordinated recruitment scam, with some of the main players reported to be senior people in the society.
Detectives began investigating cases of Kenyans being lured to engage in the war under the promise of lucrative jobs in Russia, following revelations that Kenyans were being duped to pay huge amounts to secure employment in Russia, only to end up fighting with Ukrainian forces, where some are reported to have been killed, while those who survive are maimed.
Others bear wounds of torture or seem psychologically disturbed. One of the two victims who returned to the country recently from Russia is admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Another victim, 36-year-old Evans Kibet, shared his experience in a clip that has since gone viral, in which he says he is a prisoner of war in Ukraine after he was duped into travelling to Russia to run track races, only to end up being forced into a military job.
He has since called for help and begged not to be transported to Russia.
Last week, Ukrainian media reported that Kibet was captured by Ukrainian soldiers while serving in the Russian army in Kharkiv Oblast, near the town of Vovchansk.
According to the Ukrainian army's 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, Kibet confessed to having travelled to Russia as a tourist only to be deceived into joining the Russian army.
"This case highlights a broader pattern of Russia recruiting foreigners to fight against Ukraine, sometimes through deceptive methods," the Kyiv Independent wrote.
Investigations into the suspected trafficking ring are ongoing, with police warning that the syndicate has been targeting vulnerable Kenyans desperate for work abroad.
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