Russia reportedly takes over 1,000 Kenyans to Ukraine

Russian  – (Web Desk) – An intelligence report presented to Kenya’s parliament revealed that over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine, with most reportedly misled into signing military contracts.

Investigations by several media outlets, including a recent AFP report, show that Russia has lured men from African countries with promises of well-paying jobs, only to push them into front-line combat in Ukraine.

A joint inquiry by Kenya’s National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, presented on Wednesday, confirmed the number of Kenyan recruits exceeds 1,000 — significantly higher than the roughly 200 previously reported in December.

“The Kenyans leave the country on tourist visas to join the Russian army through Istanbul, Turkey, as well as Abu Dhabi, UAE,” Kimani Ichung’wah, parliament majority leader, told lawmakers.

But he said increased border enforcement at Nairobi’s airport meant recruits were also now travelling to other African countries to avoid detection.

Ichung’wah said unlicensed recruitment agencies in Kenya were “colluding with rogue airport staff”.

The Russian Embassy in Kenya has disputed reports that Kenyans were illegally recruited to Russia to serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the Ukraine Russian war.

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He said at least 39 Kenyans were currently hospitalised, 28 missing-in-action and 89 on the front line.

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi is due to visit Moscow next month to discuss the issue, with the government condemning the use of its people “as cannon fodder”.

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Uganda and South Africa are among the other African countries that have been targeted for recruitment as Russia faces heavy casualties in Ukraine.