Government rejects claims of Kenyans serving as mercenaries in Ukraine

Kenya's Foreign Affairs Ministry has dismissed assertions intimating that five Kenyan nationals are operating as mercenaries in Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict between the Volodymyr Zelensky-led nation and Russia.

This comes after Russia's Foreign Ministry, in a statement on X on Thursday, highlighted that a total of 13,387 foreign mercenaries from different parts of the globe had arrived in Ukraine since Moscow invaded Kyiv in February 2022.

Out of the 13,387 mercenaries, Russia stated that 249 were from Africa, with five of them specifically being drawn from Kenya.

In a quick rejoinder, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Singoei rejected the allegations, asserting that Kenya does not associate itself with any mercenary-related activities in Ukraine.

"As a signatory to the "1989 United Nations Convention on International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries", and the "1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa", Kenya rejects the allegations and dissociates herself from any alleged mercenary presence and activities in Ukraine," said Singoei.

"Kenya's interaction with other State Actors of International Relations continues to be guided by her Foreign Policy of non-interference in affairs of other states, non-alignment as well as peaceful settlement of disputes."

Russia's Foreign Ministry added that out of the 13,387 alleged mercenaries who arrived in Ukraine, 5,962 have been eliminated.

Russia further stated that 8,112 mercenaries were from European countries, with 3,611 neutralised by Russian forces.

A further 3,051 mercenaries were sourced from North and South America, with 1,354 killed in action.

Additionally, 1,898 of the alleged hired guns were from Asian countries with 859 of them having been killed so far.

African mercenaries killed in action total 103, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry while a total of 77 mercenaries were drawn from Australia and other Oceania nations, with 35 killed in action.