More than 200 Kenyans are reportedly fighting for Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine, according to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi. Authorities fear that even more citizens could be recruited into the conflict.
The minister revealed that some of those fighting include former members of Kenya’s security forces. Others who have been rescued said they were forced to assemble drones and handle dangerous chemicals without proper training or safety equipment.
President William Ruto recently appealed to the Ukrainian government to help secure the release of Kenyans trapped in the war zone.
Reports indicate that about 1,400 Africans are currently fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, with many allegedly recruited through deception. One young Kenyan athlete captured in Ukraine earlier this year claimed he was tricked into joining the Russian army.
Mudavadi warned that recruitment networks are still active both in Kenya and Russia, and that some recruits were promised up to $18,000 to cover travel and living expenses. Kenya’s embassy in Moscow has documented several injuries among these fighters.
He also raised concerns about the growing number of Kenyans being drawn into forced criminal activities such as drug trafficking and labor exploitation abroad, calling it a serious threat to both national and global security.
In September, Kenyan authorities rescued more than 20 nationals who were preparing to travel to Russia to join the war. One suspect accused of coordinating the recruitment was arrested and is now facing prosecution.
Meanwhile, other African countries are grappling with similar challenges. South Africa has launched an investigation into how 17 of its citizens ended up fighting in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. Citizens from Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka are also reported to be detained in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps.