Government reveals over 200 Kenyans lured to join Russian military, some injured or stranded

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has warned that human trafficking is an increasing threat to Kenyans living abroad, highlighting countries such as Myanmar, Laos, and Russia as places where citizens have been lured by job offers only to end up in harm’s way.

"Though significant progress has been made in Diaspora Diplomacy, we are also cognizant of weaknesses that put our citizens in harm's way by virtue of unscrupulous foreign agents. The Government has had successful and safe repatriation of Kenyans from conflict-affected and high-risk regions," Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said during the third quarterly media briefing on Kenya's Foreign Policy at the ministry headquarters on Wednesday.

He noted that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, recruitment drives in Russia have increasingly targeted African nationals, including Kenyans.

As a result, the Ministry continues to receive inquiries from families about relatives allegedly involved in the conflict.

"Reports suggest that over 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian military, with some being former members of Kenya's disciplined services," said Mudavadi, who also serves as the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary.

Injured, stranded

Some recruits, he added, have reported injuries, while others remain stranded after attempting to join Russia’s war efforts.

Mudavadi further revealed that recruitment networks remain active in both Kenya and Russia.

"As you may be aware, on 24th September 2025, a multiagency security-led raid was conducted in Athi River, where 21 Kenyans were found housed awaiting processing to the warzone. One agent was arrested for coordinating the processing of Kenyan recruits under the guise of overseas jobs. The agent is presently in court for luring unsuspecting Kenyans to fight in the war," he said.

The CS also noted that intelligence reports indicate victims are signing contracts with unscrupulous agencies, with promises of payment of up to $18,000 (Sh2.7 million) for visas, travel, and accommodation.

"Unfortunately, those who have been rescued have said they were misled about the nature of the work they were to do, including assembling drones, handling chemicals, and painting works without proper training or protective gear. These are worrying concerns for us, and we must be able to tell you to guard our brothers and sisters against being exploited," he urged.

Recruiting foreigners

Multiple research reports indicate that Russia has been recruiting foreigners to compensate for its human losses on the war front.

According to the Centre for Eastern Studies, in an attempt to reduce Russian participation in the intense fighting in Ukraine, the Kremlin considered several solutions, including recruiting citizens of other countries into the Russian army.

"These include economic migrants hailing from the former Soviet republics who reside in the Russian Federation, as well as residents of other countries who would agree to come to Russia for this purpose," the centre said in an earlier report.

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• Government reveals over 200 Kenyans lured to join Russian military
• some injured or stranded

Kenyans are among the foreign nationals who have found themselves fighting for Russia, with many moving to Moscow unaware of the job they would eventually be forced to take. The recruitment, the centre notes, has been ongoing for more than two years.

In April 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia had recruited over 1,500 foreign nationals to fight against Ukraine between April 2023 and May 2024. Most of the recruits came from South and East Asia (771 individuals), followed by former Soviet republics (523), and African countries (72).

Primary motivators

The British intelligence update suggested that the primary motivators for foreigners signing military contracts are financial incentives and the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship.

"Many foreign citizens are almost certainly recruited specifically through Moscow due to higher signing bonuses and the city's relative international accessibility," the report said.

According to Kenyans who were enlisted but have since returned home, most shared negative experiences of their involvement in the conflict. The BBC Russian Service reported that by the end of December 2023, at least 254 foreigners serving in the Russian army had been killed. Independent media also indicate that at least 100 Central Asian citizens have died since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.

Others, including Kenyans, have sought medical treatment after returning home with injuries. However, the total number of foreigners involved in the war remains unknown.