Russian Embassy Rejects Claims of Recruiting Kenyans for Ukraine Conflict
The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has firmly denied any role in recruiting Kenyan citizens to join its armed forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
In a statement issued on February 19, 2026, the embassy labeled the accusations as part of a "dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign." It stressed that embassy staff have never issued visas to individuals traveling to Russia specifically to enlist, nor has the Russian government engaged in illegal recruitment efforts targeting Kenyans. The embassy pointed out that Russian law permits foreign nationals legally present in the country to voluntarily join its military, framing participation as fighting alongside Russian forces against what it calls "NATO-backed Ukrainian Nazism."
The denials come in response to serious allegations raised in Kenya's National Assembly by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who presented findings from a National Intelligence Service report. The intelligence assessment claims that over 1,000 Kenyans have been trafficked or lured into fighting for Russia, often through deceptive job promises from rogue recruitment agencies and syndicates. These individuals reportedly received tourist visas—sometimes with alleged collusion from officials at the Russian embassy in Nairobi or the Kenyan embassy in Moscow—before being redirected to the front lines via routes like Istanbul or Abu Dhabi. The report details that around 89 Kenyans remain active on the battlefield, with 39 hospitalized, 28 missing in action, some having returned home, and at least one confirmed dead.
The embassy expressed readiness to cooperate with Kenyan authorities to clarify matters and proposed advancing bilateral agreements on labor migration, travel, and security coordination to prevent future issues. Meanwhile, the revelations have intensified calls for accountability in Kenya's foreign missions and highlighted broader concerns about human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable citizens with offers of high salaries (around Ksh 350,000 monthly) and potential Russian citizenship. The situation underscores tensions in Kenya-Russia relations amid the protracted Ukraine conflict, with ongoing demands for Moscow to halt the conscription of Kenyan nationals.
