More than 20 people have been rescued in Kenya from a suspected human trafficking ring that lured them with job offers in Russia but intended to send them to fight in Ukraine, police said.
It follows an intelligence-led raid on a residential apartment on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi, where officers seized recruitment materials, travel documents, and job offer letters.
One suspect, accused of coordinating the victims' travel to Russia in September and October, has been arrested and is currently detained for further investigation.
Concerns have been mounting regarding the increasing number of Kenyans being trafficked abroad under false job offers. Recently, a young Kenyan athlete captured in Ukraine claimed he had been tricked into joining the Russian army.
A coordinated multi-agency security operation led to the arrest of the suspect and the rescue of 22 Kenyans awaiting processing, some of whom had already paid up to $18,000 in fees to an overseas employment agency.
Once recruited, many victims return home injured or traumatized, and authorities continue to follow up with reports of additional Kenyan nationals believed to be held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
The situation poses a significant challenge for the Kenyan government, as victims of this trafficking ring represent a growing issue concerning the exploitation of vulnerable job seekers.
