Sunday, February 22, 2026-A startling new report to Kenya’s parliament reveals that more than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, often under false pretenses that promised legitimate work abroad.
Many recruits — including former soldiers, police officers, and unemployed youth — were approached with offers of high pay and stable jobs, only to be transported to Russia on tourist visas and quickly assigned to front‑line combat roles with little meaningful training. Lawmakers described the situation bluntly: many were essentially “given a gun and sent to die.”
The human toll is already evident. Scores of Kenyans are confirmed injured, missing, or deceased, while others who have returned home are dealing with severe trauma. Families in Nairobi and other towns have staged demonstrations demanding government action, sharing heartbreaking accounts of loved ones who set out for what they believed would be secure employment.
Recruiters reportedly used contracts written in foreign languages that many signees could not understand, leaving them unaware they were being sent directly into a war zone rather than to civilian jobs such as security or technical work.
The revelations have triggered fierce criticism of recruitment networks and gaps in government oversight. Kenya’s National Intelligence Service has pointed to rogue officials and trafficking syndicates — including individuals tied to recruitment agencies and diplomatic posts — as key players in funneling citizens into these schemes.
The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has responded by saying foreign nationals can voluntarily enlist in its armed forces, but the mounting evidence of deception and deadly outcomes has intensified pressure on Kenyan authorities. Lawmakers and human rights groups are calling for urgent diplomatic measures, legal accountability for those involved, and expedited efforts to bring home those still trapped in the conflict.
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