The Kenyan Embassy in Moscow has cautioned Kenyan citizens against travelling to Russia through unverified recruitment channels, citing a surge in fraudulent job offers targeting jobseekers.
The advisory follows numerous inquiries from citizens and their families about suspicious employment deals arranged by online recruiters and unlicensed agents.
“Do not accept overseas employment offers via social media, messaging apps, or unlicensed agents,” the Embassy stated.
According to the Embassy, many individuals reportedly received promises of high-paying jobs and residency arrangements that were either nonexistent or vastly different from what was communicated before their departure.
In some cases, affected Kenyans reported restricted movement, withholding of passports, and limited access to consular support, leaving them vulnerable to adverse conditions.
The Embassy is urging Kenyan citizens to verify all overseas job offers with relevant authorities and warns against travelling on tourist visas for employment purposes.
“Where individuals have travelled through irregular, unsafe, unverified, and informal channels, consular access and intervention may be limited or delayed,” the Embassy warned. “Immediate extraction or repatriation may also be challenging due to contractual disputes, restricted locations, or legal processes under the host country’s laws and administrative procedures.”
The Embassy said the rise of fraudulent recruitment networks targeting Kenyan nationals remains a growing concern and confirmed it is working with host country authorities to address the issue.
“The safety and welfare of Kenyan citizens abroad remain a top priority for the Government of Kenya,” the Embassy reaffirmed.
It is now urging all Kenyans travelling or residing in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or Kazakhstan to register with the Embassy.
The warning comes days after Ukrainian authorities confirmed that three Kenyan men recruited into Russia’s military had been killed near Lyman in the Donetsk region.
The deceased had been identified as Ombwori Denis Bagaka, born January 30, 1987; Wahome Simon Gititu, born May 21, 1991; and Clinton Nyapara Mogesa.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said the three were recruited while working in Qatar, drawn by offers of high-paying and stable jobs.
“All three Kenyans — Bagaka, Gititu, and Mogesa — were lured into Russia's war against Ukraine in Qatar,” the statement said.
Bagaka and Mogesa arrived at a Russian recruitment centre in Yaroslavl on September 27, 2025, while Gititu joined them a month later on October 28.
Kyrgyz national Salizhan Uulu Almamet reportedly acted as their representative, signing contracts on their behalf with the Russian occupation army and taking control of their bank accounts.
The recruits were then sent to Pogonovo, near Voronezh, military unit No. 11097, a facility used for accelerated combat training.
The Defence Intelligence described the base as housing a “penal battalion,” where prisoners, captured deserters, chronic alcoholics, drug addicts, and foreign mercenaries are assigned to risky missions.
