Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has revealed that more than 200 Kenyans could have joined the Russian military since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Mudavadi said reports indicate that recruitment networks targeting African nationals, including Kenyans, are still active both in Russia and within Kenya.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs continues to receive inquiries from families seeking information about relatives allegedly involved in the war.
“Reports suggest that over two hundred Kenyans may have joined the Russian military, with some being former members of Kenya’s disciplined services,” Mudavadi said.
According to the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow has reported cases of injuries among nationals and others stranded after failed recruitment attempts into the war effort.
He cited a recent multi-agency security operation conducted on September 24, 2025, in Athi River, where 21 Kenyans were found being housed as they awaited transportation to the war zone.
During the raid, one agent was arrested for allegedly coordinating the recruitment of Kenyans under the guise of overseas employment. The suspect is currently facing charges in court.
Mudavadi said intelligence reports show that victims were promised up to USD 18,000 (about Sh2.7 million) to cover visa, travel, and accommodation expenses.
However, those rescued later revealed they were misled about the nature of the jobs they were to perform.
“Some of those rescued said they were told they would be assembling drones, handling chemicals, or doing painting work, only to find themselves in dangerous environments without training or protective gear,” Mudavadi said.
“These are worrying concerns, and we must protect our brothers and sisters from exploitation.”
He warned that human trafficking networks have evolved into sophisticated criminal enterprises, involving forced labour, online scams, illegal cryptocurrency trade, slavery, organ harvesting, money laundering, and sexual exploitation.
“These crimes pose serious threats not only to Kenya’s national security but also to global peace and stability,” he said.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), human trafficking is now one of the world’s largest criminal industries, generating more than USD 150 billion annually. Mudavadi said traffickers are increasingly targeting Africans through fake online job advertisements that promise lucrative opportunities abroad, particularly in Asia.
“These networks advertise jobs on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Signal, X, and YouTube,” he said.
“They promise roles ranging from receptionists and cooks to cryptocurrency traders and translators. Once victims apply, they are duped into traveling on tourist visas with one-way tickets and fake hotel bookings.”
Mudavadi said Kenya’s diplomatic missions are frequently rescuing citizens stranded abroad and urged Kenyans to conduct thorough background checks before accepting overseas job offers.
“To mitigate this, we continue to encourage Kenyans seeking employment abroad to do so only through agencies vetted by the Ministry of Labour and the National Employment Agency,” he stated.
The government, he added, remains committed to protecting citizens from human trafficking and ensuring ethical recruitment practices for Kenyans working abroad.
