Kenya says Russia will stop recruiting its citizens to fight in Ukraine

Russia Agrees to Stop Military Recruitment of Kenyan Nationals

The Kenyan government has announced that Russia will cease the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into its military forces. This development follows discussions between Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi , and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov , in Moscow.

The issue arose after reports indicated that a significant number of Kenyans had been recruited to participate in the Ukraine conflict on the Russian side. Concerns were raised in Kenya regarding the recruitment processes, with some individuals claiming they were misled about the nature of the employment.

Kenyan authorities have taken measures to address the situation, including the shutdown of over 600 recruitment agencies suspected of involvement in fraudulent activities. Efforts are also underway to repatriate affected citizens, with 27 individuals having been brought back to Kenya. The government is providing counseling and rehabilitation support to these returnees.

The total number of Kenyan casualties in the conflict remains undetermined, and families of those involved have encountered difficulties in obtaining information from Russian authorities. Public dissatisfaction has been evident, with protests occurring in Nairobi demanding government action.

Future Relations and Economic Cooperation

During his visit, Mudavadi also explored avenues for economic cooperation with Russia, aiming to establish legitimate employment opportunities for Kenyans. Despite the challenges related to the Ukraine conflict, Kenya seeks to maintain and develop its bilateral relations with Russia.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, recruitment of foreign fighters by Russia has involved over 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries. Other African nations, such as South Africa, have also repatriated nationals misled into joining the conflict. Ukraine has similarly faced criticism for attempting to recruit foreign volunteers, including Africans, for its military efforts.

Based on reporting by Africanews.