Kenyan Families Seek Return of Family Members Recruited to Russian Army

Kenyan Citizens Lured to Fight in Ukraine, Report Reveals

A recent intelligence report from Kenya’s National Intelligence Service has confirmed that over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. The report also states that 89 individuals are currently on the front line, with 39 hospitalized and 28 missing in action.

Families of affected citizens gathered in Nairobi on Thursday to demand their loved ones’ return. Winnie Rose Wambui expressed concern for her brother, Samuel Maina, who was allegedly recruited under false pretenses as a security guard at a mall in Russia. She last heard from him in October when he sent a distress voice note from a forest.

The families plan to present petitions to various government offices, including the Foreign Ministry and the Russian embassy. Peter Kamau, coordinator of the group, stated that his brother Gerald Gitau is missing and expressed frustration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ response. The Russian embassy in Kenya released a statement denying any involvement in illegal recruitment, describing the allegations as “dangerous and misleading propaganda.”

The report highlights a network of rogue state officials and trafficking syndicates collaborating to deceive locals into joining the war effort. Recruitment agencies allegedly targeted former soldiers, police officers, and unemployed individuals with promises of monthly earnings and bonuses.

In response to the growing number of Kenyan recruits, Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi plans to visit Russia next month for talks on the issue. The government has also reported rescuing 27 Kenyans who were stranded in Russia.

Source: Al Jazeera