NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has issued a stark warning after revealing that more than 200 of its citizens have been recruited to fight for the Russian military in Ukraine, with many injured, stranded, or deceived by promises of high-paying jobs.
The announcement, made by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, highlights an escalating human trafficking crisis that is ensnaring Kenyans seeking work abroad.
“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,” Mudavadi stated during a quarterly media briefing on Kenya’s Foreign Policy on Wednesday.
He confirmed that the government is actively investigating the situation and has received numerous inquiries from concerned families. “Reports suggest that over 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian military, with some being former members of Kenya’s disciplined services,” Mudavadi said. “Some recruits have reported injuries, while others remain stranded.”
A Deceptive Pipeline to a Warzone
The government detailed how recruitment networks, operating both in Kenya and Russia, lure victims with fraudulent offers of lucrative overseas employment. Mudavadi pointed to a recent multi-agency raid in Athi River on September 24, 2025, where 21 Kenyans were discovered being housed while awaiting processing to be sent to the conflict zone. One agent was arrested and is facing charges.
“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,” Mudavadi explained.
However, the reality for those who arrive is starkly different. Rescued Kenyans have reported being misled about the nature of the work, which they were told involved assembling drones, handling chemicals, or painting—all without proper training or protective gear.
“The Government has had successful and safe repatriation of Kenyans from conflict-affected and high-risk regions,” Mudavadi assured, urging the public to be vigilant. “We must be able to tell you to guard our brothers and sisters against being exploited.”
A Kremlin Strategy with Global Reach
The recruitment of Kenyans fits a broader pattern identified by international research groups. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has actively sought foreign nationals to compensate for its significant battlefield losses.
According to an April 2024 intelligence update from the UK Ministry of Defence, Russia recruited over 1,500 foreign nationals between April 2023 and May 2024 alone. The recruits primarily came from South and East Asia and former Soviet republics, with 72 identified as coming from African nations.
The Centre for Eastern Studies, a Polish think-tank, notes that the Kremlin has pursued this strategy to limit the direct involvement of its own citizens in the most intense fighting. The primary motivators for foreigners are reported to be financial incentives and the promise of Russian citizenship.
The human cost of this policy is already evident. 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 have also documented the deaths of at least 100 Central Asian citizens.
For Kenya, the crisis represents a new and dangerous front in the fight against human trafficking, with its citizens now becoming pawns in a distant conflict they never sought to join.
