Kenya to Challenge Russia on Recruitment of Nationals for Combat

Wed Feb 11 2026 01:10:41 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi condemns the illicit recruitment of Kenyan citizens to fight in Ukraine for Russia, stating it is 'unacceptable' and calling for an immediate cease to such practices.

In a strong response to reports of its nationals being unlawfully recruited for combat in Ukraine, Kenya has pledged to address the issue with Russia. Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the recruitment 'unacceptable', revealed that illegal agencies are being shut down, and urged the Russian government to formalize agreements to prevent conscription. The Kenyan authorities claim around 200 nationals may be involved, stressing the need for urgent political and diplomatic action to protect citizens.

Kenya says it will talk to Russia over growing reports that its citizens are being recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to the BBC, Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the practice unacceptable and clandestine, and said Nairobi had shut down illegal recruiters and would urge Moscow to sign a deal banning the conscription of Kenyan soldiers.

The Kenyan government estimates that around 200 of its nationals have been recruited to fight for Russia.

The exact number remains unclear, as Nairobi maintains that none of them travelled through official channels.

Kenya and Russia have had long relations since independence, literally. So this, in my view, becomes a very unfortunate episode of otherwise very positive and cordial relations between our two countries, he added.

Mudavadi has told the BBC that Kenya's engagement with Russia will focus on curbing illegal recruitment practices, including discussions on visa policy and bilateral labour agreements excluding military conscription.

He said the Kenyan authorities had closed more than 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs overseas.

So far 27 Kenyans who had been fighting in Russia have been repatriated, he said, with authorities providing psychological care to address their trauma and de-radicalise them.

It is not clear how many Kenyans have died fighting for Russian forces, and Russia has not formally addressed such reports. Relatives who have approached the Russian embassy in Nairobi for answers report being turned away.

Pressure has been mounting on the Kenyan government to act after the recent discovery of more bodies of citizens who had been recruited to fight for Russian armed forces.

Some of the affected families have told the BBC that they lay the blame squarely on Kenya's government, for failing to regulate and criminalise clandestine recruitment agencies.

But the Kenyan foreign minister rejects this.

Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimates that more than 1,400 people from 36 countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that anyone fighting for Russia will be treated as an enemy combatant, and that the only safe route out is to surrender and be treated as a prisoner of war.