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Sixteen Kenyans have gone missing in Russia after joining the country’s military, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has revealed. He also noted that 47 others have since returned home after being deployed to the front lines in Ukraine.
Speaking before a Senate committee, Mudavadi said 38 Kenyans are currently admitted in various Russian hospitals under restricted conditions. He added that the number of those missing rose from 10 to 16 within just 24 hours, with their status still unknown.
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The CS estimated that about 165 Kenyans are actively engaged in the conflict, pushing the total number of those who have taken part in the war in Ukraine to over 250, though the actual figure could be higher. He further disclosed that two Kenyans are being held in Ukraine as prisoners of war.
According to Mudavadi, those recruited signed contracts for roles ranging from logistics support to direct combat. He emphasized that most enlisted voluntarily and were aware of what they were signing up for.
He said attractive incentives played a key role, including sign-up bonuses of between $11,500 and $23,000, monthly salaries of up to $2,700, and promises of citizenship and end-of-contract benefits.
The minister pointed to recruitment networks operating in Kenya, Russia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates as being behind the enlistment drive.
Kenya has since launched investigations into the illegal recruitment of its citizens for the war. Mudavadi previously revealed that over 600 agencies suspected of misleading Kenyans with fake overseas job offers had been shut down.
In February, families of affected individuals staged protests outside Parliament in Nairobi, calling for government intervention and the safe return of their loved ones.
Mudavadi also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow in mid-March, where both sides agreed to stop the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military.
Lavrov maintained that foreign nationals, including Kenyans, had joined the Russian army willingly by signing contracts.
The Kenyan government says it is continuing to monitor the situation closely, with efforts underway to protect citizens and curb further exploitation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence estimates that more than 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia. Ukraine has also been seeking foreign fighters, recently highlighting a Nigerian drone operator known as “Cobra” on social media.
