Govt Warns Kenyan Youth After Rescuing 18 Citizens from Russia–Ukraine War

The government has successfully rescued and repatriated 18 citizens who were stranded in the Russian Federation after recruiters illegally enlisted them to fight in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has announced.

In an official update, Mudavadi said the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs secured the safe return of the Kenyans through swift diplomatic and consular interventions coordinated by Kenya’s mission in Moscow. The operation targeted Kenyans who had fallen victim to recruitment networks linked to the Russian military.

“The Government affirms that through these interventions, 18 Kenyan citizens have been successfully rescued, issued with Emergency Travel Documents, and safely repatriated to Kenya,” Mudavadi said.

He added that authorities have fully documented the cases of all the rescued individuals, including their travel records, dates of departure, and the airlines they used, as part of ongoing investigations into the illegal recruitment networks.

Following their return, the government will offer the rescued Kenyans comprehensive psycho-social support to help them recover and reintegrate into society.

“The Government has a fully-fledged counselling unit that offers psycho-social support to returnees, their families and other Kenyans in distress,” Mudavadi said.

He further noted that the State Department for Diaspora Affairs will guide the returnees through a structured reintegration programme designed to support their physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

According to the government, credible intelligence suggests that recruiters may have enlisted more than 200 Kenyans, with active recruitment networks believed to operate both in Kenya and within the Russian Federation.

The Kenyan Embassy in Moscow has confirmed that some Kenyan nationals sustained injuries, while others became stranded after recruiters attempted to enlist them into military service.

Mudavadi revealed that the government continues to receive urgent distress calls from Kenyans trapped in various military camps across Russia.

“Further, the Government has received multiple emails and urgent communications from Kenyans in distress in various military camps in the Russian Federation,” he said.

“Several of them have reported injuries among our nationals and others stranded following attempted recruitment into the violent conflict.”

After confirming that the Russian military was drafting Kenyan nationals, the Kenyan Mission in Moscow issued public alerts urging Kenyans travelling to or living in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to register with the embassy to enable prompt assistance.

“The Mission advised all Kenyans travelling to or residing in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan to register with the Embassy upon arrival, enabling timely monitoring, consular assistance and protection,” Mudavadi said.

The government is now engaging Russian authorities to facilitate the movement of Kenyans currently held in military camps to Kenya’s mission in Moscow for onward repatriation.

Despite this crisis, Mudavadi stated that Kenya is still committed to improving bilateral ties with Russia and even signed a Bilateral Labour Agreement to provide “genuine and safe job opportunities” for Kenyan citizens abroad.

He also revealed that the government is engaging the Ukrainian government to ensure the release and safe return of any reported Kenyan nationals allegedly held by the government of Ukraine as prisoners of war.

At the same time, Mudavadi warned young Kenyans against falling victim to fraudulent overseas job offers, urging them to verify opportunities through official government channels before travelling.

“The Government continues to urge young Kenyans who get job offers abroad to liaise with the Ministries of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and Labour and Social Protection to verify the authenticity of opportunities,” he said.

“This will ensure that no Kenyan is lured by these corrupt and ruthless agents to travel and get trapped in such dangerous situations.”

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