Kenya’s foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi, said in Moscow on Monday that officials have pledged to stop Kenyans being coerced into joining the Russian military and are preparing to repatriate those who were lured to Russia under false pretenses. After being promised well-paid civilian jobs, about 1,000 Kenyans reportedly arrived in Russia only to find themselves forcibly conscripted to take part in the invasion of Ukraine.
Mudavadi said his talks with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov produced an agreement that Kenyans “will no longer be eligible to be enlisted” in the “special operation,” Moscow’s term for the war. He added that the two countries would work on returning Kenyans who had been deceived.
The issue drew intense reaction in Kenya after a February intelligence report estimated some 1,000 Kenyans were fighting for Russia—roughly five times earlier estimates. The findings prompted public outrage and calls from Mudavadi’s deputy, Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, for an immediate end to what he described as the “unacceptable” use of Kenyans as “cannon fodder.”
Lavrov said the Kenyans in the Russian military had joined voluntarily but expressed support for the new measures. Mudavadi emphasized that the matter would not derail broader Kenya–Russia cooperation.
The development comes amid wider reports of Russia recruiting foreigners to bolster its forces, with many recruits saying they were tricked. Earlier this year South Africa repatriated 15 citizens from the Donbas who said they had been lured there. In 2024 Nepal stopped issuing exit documents for citizens intending to work in Russia. Tens of thousands of North Koreans are also believed to be fighting for Russia, with reports from US and British outlets alleging many face slavery-like conditions while serving.
Edited by: Alex Berry