Russia Agrees to Halt Recruitment of Kenyans for Ukraine War
Kenya's foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi, announced that Russia has agreed to cease the deployment of Kenyan nationals to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine following discussions held in Moscow.
Speaking alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mudavadi stated that both parties had reached an agreement that Kenyans would no longer be recruited through Russia's defence ministry.
"They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted," he said.
Lavrov did not comment directly on the agreement but emphasized that all foreign fighters had joined voluntarily,
"in full compliance with Russian law."
A Kenyan intelligence report released in February indicated that over 1,000 Kenyan citizens had been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Some Kenyans have reported being enticed to join Russian forces with promises of well-paid civilian employment, only to find themselves compelled to fight in Ukraine.
Mudavadi is also advocating for the repatriation of Kenyans who wish to return home from the conflict zone.
Last month, he informed the BBC that Kenyan authorities had shut down more than 600 recruitment agencies suspected of deceiving Kenyans with false promises of overseas jobs.
Kenyan lawmakers have alleged that rogue state officials have collaborated with human trafficking networks to recruit citizens for Russia's military efforts in Ukraine.
To date, 27 Kenyans who had been fighting in Russia have been repatriated. Authorities are providing psychological support to address their trauma and to "de-radicalise" them, according to Mudavadi.
It remains unclear how many Kenyans have died fighting for Russian forces, and Russia has not officially commented on such reports. Relatives seeking information from the Russian embassy in Nairobi have reportedly been turned away.
Public concern has increased over the issue. In February, families of Kenyans believed to be fighting in Ukraine held a protest outside the Kenyan parliament in Nairobi, urging the government to take action and facilitate the return of their relatives.
Negotiations on Broader Kenya-Russia Relations
During his visit to Moscow, Mudavadi also aims to negotiate an agreement to facilitate easier access for Kenyans to the Russian job market.
"We do not want for any reason our partnership with Russia to be defined from the lenses of the special operation [in Ukraine] agenda only," he said."The relationship between Kenya and Russia is much more broader than that."
Ukrainian intelligence estimates that more than 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia.
In February, South Africa repatriated 17 citizens who reported being trapped in Ukraine's Donbas region after being deceived into fighting for Russia.
Ukraine has also faced criticism for attempting to recruit foreign nationals, including Africans, to fight on its side.
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