The government has confirmed that 28 Kenyans have been safely returned from Russia after being irregularly recruited to participate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with authorities warning that more citizens may still be missing or trapped abroad.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said those repatriated were victims of deceitful networks that exploit Kenyans, despite Nairobi’s clear position against involvement in the war.
“A number of Kenyans have unfortunately fallen victim to unscrupulous groups, cartels and agents,” Sing’Oei said, highlighting that similar cases have been reported in far-off countries in Asia, including Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as through irregular military enlistment in Europe.
Speaking at a GLOCEPS and India High Commission symposium in Nairobi, he described the Russia-Ukraine war as a global security risk that has direct economic impacts, including disruptions to the supply of essential goods.
“Kenya’s policy position is clear: this is a war that must end, and it is not the policy of the Kenyan government that any Kenyan should be a participant in it,” he said.
Sing’Oei added that while the government does not facilitate recruitment for any side in the conflict, some Kenyans who ended up on the battlefield later approached Kenya’s missions abroad for assistance.
“A number of them have come to our missions and reached out to our mission in Moscow. I can confirm that 28 of them have been repatriated since December, and this was facilitated by our mission in Moscow,” he said.
He warned that the status of other Kenyans is unknown, with some families losing contact and fearing that relatives may have died. He explained that the government cannot provide exact figures since the recruitment was informal and Kenya was not involved in the enlistment process.
“Unfortunately, we do not have the infrastructure to determine those numbers, because in the first instance, we were not involved when they were recruited,” he said.
On diplomatic measures, Sing’Oei said Kenya is pursuing two approaches: negotiating for the release of Kenyans held by Ukrainian authorities as prisoners of war, and working with the Russian mission in Nairobi to prevent further irregular recruitment.
He noted that while Russian officials claim their government does not support such recruitment, the legal situation is complex.
“Under Russian law, it is not illegal for a non-Russian to serve in their army if they do so voluntarily. The critical question we are trying to assess is the extent to which these Kenyans were recruited voluntarily,” he said.
Sing’Oei also drew attention to trafficking in Asia, where Kenyans are lured with offers of jobs as teachers, tech workers, or domestic staff, only to find themselves in distress upon arrival.
“Many of these individuals are baited with legitimate-sounding job offers, only to find themselves in distress once they arrive,” he said.
He confirmed that several Kenyans previously held in Myanmar have been brought home, with efforts ongoing for others still stranded. Kenya’s mission in Bangkok is coordinating with host governments to develop repatriation systems.
To expand support for Kenyans abroad, the Cabinet approved a new mission in Vietnam last year.
“That mission will serve as an additional institutional mechanism to support Kenyans in distress, while also expanding opportunities for bilateral relations,” he said.
Regarding Cambodia, where several citizens remain trapped, Sing’Oei said he is hopeful that cooperation with local authorities will enable their swift return.
“It is my view that, depending on the cooperation of all actors within government, and most fundamentally the government of Cambodia, we should be able to get them home within the shortest time possible,” he said.
He acknowledged that numbers remain uncertain due to the covert nature of the recruitment networks, which misled many victims about the work they were signing up for.
“They are not informed that they will be serving in the military. They are told they will be working in industrial complexes or export zones, only to discover upon arrival that they have been recruited to serve as military functionaries,” Sing’Oei said.
The ministry emphasized that public awareness campaigns are being strengthened to warn Kenyans about suspicious overseas offers, while diplomatic efforts continue to dismantle trafficking networks and ensure citizens’ safety abroad.
