The Government of Kenya, through the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has successfully repatriated 18 citizens from the Russian Federation, providing them with Emergency Travel Documents.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs confirmed that the returnees will undergo a reintegration programme and receive psycho-social support. Authorities are engaging both the Russian and Ukrainian governments to safeguard Kenyans from forced recruitment and ensure safe passage home.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the Government has established a fully-fledged counselling unit under the State Department for Diaspora Affairs (SDDA) to provide psycho-social support to returnees, their families, and other Kenyans in distress.
The 18 repatriated individuals, along with others facing similar challenges, will undergo a reintegration programme aimed at supporting their full return to normal life.
This comes three years after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke into a full scale in February 2022, where the government indicated that over 200 Kenyans are reported to have been recruited into the Russian military, with some sustaining injuries while others remain stranded.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and escalated dramatically in 2022 when Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The war has since become one of the largest conflicts in Europe in decades, with widespread military engagements across multiple fronts and extensive humanitarian consequences.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or displaced, and both Russian and Ukrainian forces have suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties, highlighting the scale and intensity of the ongoing conflict.
Since the onset of the conflict in 2022, more killings have been witnessed, with injuries reported from different fronts.
The Kenyan Embassy in Moscow confirmed cases of injuries among nationals and others left stranded following attempted recruitment.
The Government has received multiple communications from Kenyans in distress in various military camps across Russia, with some reporting injuries after attempted recruitment into the conflict.
Upon confirming these reports, the Kenyan Mission in Moscow “immediately issued public alerts through its official website and social media platforms, advising all Kenyans travelling to or residing in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to register with the Embassy. This enables timely monitoring, consular assistance, and protection.
To facilitate repatriation, the Ministry is actively engaging the Russian government to allow the movement of Kenyan nationals, including those in military camps, to the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow for onward return to Kenya.
Simultaneously, talks with Ukrainian authorities aim to secure the release and safe return of any Kenyans allegedly held as prisoners of war.
The Government has also emphasised safe and legal labour migration, urging young Kenyans receiving job offers abroad to liaise with the Ministries of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and Labour and Social Protection to verify the authenticity of opportunities to avoid exploitation.
Further measures to protect job seekers include strengthened recruitment regulations, mandatory registration and compliance of local and foreign recruitment agencies, and the Diaspora Placement Agency (DPA), which provides verified, government-sourced job opportunities abroad at no cost.
The DPA also oversees authentication of job orders issued by private recruitment agencies. Additionally, grassroots forums such as Mashinani Engagements offer accurate information on safe migration procedures, ethical recruitment, and government-approved foreign labour pathways.
The Ministry commended the efforts of key officials in Moscow and Kenya, including Peter Mathuki, Kenyan Ambassador to Moscow, Korir Sing’oei, Principal Secretary, State Department for Foreign Affairs and Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary, State Department for Diaspora Affairs, for their pivotal roles in securing the safe return of the nationals.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs operates an all-time Call Centre with an emergency hotline for reporting cases of exploitation, employer conflict, unpaid wages, detention, or crisis situations.
Those in distress can call +254207876000, WhatsApp +254114757002, or email [email protected].
Among the repatriated Kenyans were Benson Osamo Osieko, who was hospitalised, Shaquille Wambo, Plus Mwika, Derrick Njaga, Kevin Kariuki Nduma, George Rimba Mwagona, Vincent Awiti Odhiambo, Wilson Mwaoka Mwanyalo, Orima Jobick Otieno, Daniel Moogi, Daniel Muriuki, and Chitsangi Matano Athman.
Travel took place via airlines including Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, and Egypt Air, between August and November 2025.
The Government continues to monitor the situation, ensuring that all Kenyan nationals abroad are protected, supported, and able to return safely if at risk.
