Over 200 Kenyan Citizens Captured Fighting for Russia Against Ukraine

Over 200 Kenyan citizens are currently fighting alongside Russia’s invasion forces against Ukraine.

Reuters reported on this, referencing the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry also stressed that Russian recruitment agencies are continuing to actively recruit more Kenyans to join the conflict.

“Over two hundred Kenyans may have joined the Russian military… recruitment networks are still active both in Kenya and in Russia,” the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

According to the Ministry, the Kenyan embassy in Moscow has reported injuries among some of the recruits, who were allegedly promised up to $18,000 to cover visa, travel, and living expenses.

In September, during a security service raid near Nairobi, 21 Kenyans were rescued who, according to the ministry, were being prepared for deployment to the war. One individual was arrested and faces criminal prosecution in connection with the incident.

The Ministry stated that the rescued individuals had been misled about the nature of their work – they were allegedly promised they would assemble drones, work with chemicals, and paint, rather than fight.

In September, Kenyan authorities arrested Russian embassy staff member Mikhail Lyapin, who, according to investigators, was involved in recruiting local residents to participate in the war against Ukraine.

During the searches, the police seized evidence of a criminal scheme, including checkbooks, travel documents, and letters offering job offers from various companies.

Along with Lyapin, Edward Kamau Gituku was also arrested, who the investigation considers the coordinator responsible for sending the recruited Kenyans to the war.

In September, soldiers of the 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade captured a Kenyan athlete in the Kharkiv region, who was deceived into signing a contract to serve in the Russian army.

The man signed the contract under the guise of employment, after which the recruiter took away his passport and phone.