Members of Parliament are intensifying calls for executive accountability after a National Intelligence Service (NIS) report revealed that over 1,000 Kenyan citizens have been recruited through irregular channels to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- •According to the report, 89 Kenyans remain on the frontlines, 39 have been hospitalized with injuries, and 30 have been repatriated; dozens are either missing or undergoing military training abroad.
- •The MPs are urging the Ministry of Interior, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the National Employment Authority, and diplomatic staff at both the Russian embassy in Nairobi, and the Kenyan embassy in Moscow to identify and prosecute officials who facilitated the recruitment.
- •The Russia‑Ukraine war, which escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022, has resulted in staggering casualties on both sides.
“We are working with the relevant agencies to identify and prosecute those luring Kenyans into foreign conflicts. No Kenyan should be deceived into risking their life for a war that is not ours,” said Gabriel Tongoyo, Chairperson on Administration and Internal Security committee.
The recruits, including former military and police personnel as well as civilians, were reportedly enticed with promises of salaries of around KSh 350,000 per month, bonuses of up to Ksh 1.2 million, and eventual Russian citizenship. Some civilians working in the Middle East and Asia, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Jordan, and Afghanistan, also took the lucrative offers and traveled to Russia.
Initial departures from local airports like the JKIA faced increased scrutiny, prompting traffickers to reroute travel through Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and other countries. Rogue recruitment agencies reportedly worked with airport staff, security officials, and diplomats at the Russian and Kenyan embassies to bypass checks and issue visit visas for recruits.
“Our Ambassador in Moscow must be able to identify officers within the embassy that may have colluded with these criminals... Our Embassy must be beyond reproach. It must be the place where Kenyans can seek refuge, not exploitation,” said Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa.
Lawmakers have described the alleged collusion between rogue recruitment agencies and state officials as a breach of national security.
The Job Ruse
A private agency in the Nairobi central business district was reportedly disguising its recruitment drives as part of a legitimate employment initiative, Kazi Majuu, while actively sending recruits to conflict zones in Russia and Ukraine. Lawmakers stressed the need for stronger oversight of all agencies involved in overseas employment to prevent further exploitation of Kenyan citizens.
“Parents and community leaders must be vigilant. If a child says they are going to Kazi Majuu but disappears for weeks, ask yourself where your child is going. This is a serious matter affecting our national sovereignty,” said Baringo North MP, Kipkoros Makilop.
According to many victims’ accounts, upon arrival in Russia, the recruits were forced into military service, given minimal training, and sent to the frontlines in Ukraine, with passports often confiscated to prevent escape.
The recruits described harsh conditions, unpaid salaries, and exposure to deadly combat.
“They are told you are going to work as a guard... only to get there and be taken to military camps. You've only trained for three weeks... They are basically just giving you a gun to go and die,” Ichung'wa said.
Other Africans that have reportedly been lured to the Russian war front include Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Somalia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Investigations have also indicated that recruiters use social media and messaging apps to lure recruits, portraying military service as lucrative and low-risk work. Contracts were presented in Russian without legal translation, binding recruits to open-ended obligations including combat operations and limitations on travel and privacy, often contradicting promises made during recruitment.
Parliamentarians also highlighted the importance of reintegration programs for returnees, advocating for local employment opportunities to reduce vulnerability to irregular recruitment schemes. The calls reflect broader concerns over economic hardship, which drives many young Kenyans to pursue high-risk overseas jobs.
The United Nations reports more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians killed, while Ukrainian officials estimate at least 55,000 of their soldiers have died in combat. Independent investigations suggest Russian military fatalities exceed 160,000, though analysts warn the true toll is likely higher.
