DST News: Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi has confirmed that more than 200 Kenyans are believed to be fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war in Ukraine, including several former members of the country’s military.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Mudavadi warned citizens to remain vigilant, saying foreign recruitment networks continue to operate in Kenya, luring young people into the conflict with false promises of lucrative pay and travel opportunities. “We are aware that some former soldiers are among those who have joined the Russian military effort. I want to caution Kenyans that recruitment agencies are still active, misleading people into dangerous situations,” Mudavadi said.
Kenya’s embassy in Moscow has reportedly documented injuries among several of the recruits, who were allegedly promised up to $18,000 to cover visa, travel, and accommodation costs before being sent to the frontlines.
Last week, Ukrainian authorities claimed that more than 1,400 citizens from over 30 African countries are now fighting for Russia in various parts of Ukraine.
President William Ruto has since spoken by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging the release and safe return of Kenyans detained within the conflict zone, according to a statement from State House Nairobi.
The issue has also drawn attention across Africa. Earlier this month, South Africa said it was working to repatriate 17 of its nationals trapped in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region after being misled by mercenary recruiters who had promised high salaries but left them stranded once hostilities intensified.
Kenya’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated that joining a foreign conflict as a mercenary is illegal under both Kenyan and international law. The government is now collaborating with regional and international partners to track recruitment networks and provide assistance to affected families. “We must protect our youth from exploitation and ensure that Kenyans do not become victims of deceptive wartime propaganda,” Mudavadi emphasized.
The ministry has urged citizens to report any suspicious recruitment activity and avoid engagement with agents offering overseas military or “security” jobs in countries currently involved in armed conflict.
Source: africanews.com
