Kenya vowed to confront Russia over the reported recruitment of its citizens to fight in the war against Ukraine, BBC revealed.
Musalia Mudavadi, the cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, called the practice “abhorrent” and stated that Nairobi has previously taken action by closing more than 600 unlawful recruitment firms. Kenya intends to pressure Moscow to sign a bilateral deal prohibiting the recruitment of Kenyan soldiers, Mudavi continued.
“Kenya and Russia have had long relations since independence, literally. So this, in my view, becomes a very unfortunate episode of otherwise very positive and cordial relations between our two countries,” Mudavadi told BBC.
Russia is still enlisting mercenaries from Asia and Africa to fight Ukraine. Promises of civilian employment or non-frontline military roles are frequently used to entice potential recruits. According to Ukraine, Russia enlisted at least 1,436 individuals from 36 African nations. From South Africa to Kenya, African nations are openly opposing Russia’s shady recruitment practices.
Kenya’s interaction with Russia will be centred on reducing unlawful recruitment, Mudavadi told the BBC. The topic of discussion will be labour agreements and visa policies, except for military conscription. According to the Kenyan government, about 200 of its citizens fought for Russia. None went via the proper channels.
There have been 27 repatriations of Kenyans who fought in Russia thus far. They now get psychosocial care and “de-radicalise” treatment, as Mudavadi put it. 22 teenage men were on their way to Russia when they were saved by Kenyan police in September 2025.
Kenya’s Foreign Ministry issued a warning in October that “corrupt and vicious operatives” were still enticing Kenyans to join the fight. Mudavadi openly acknowledged in November that more than 200 Kenyans had enlisted as Russian soldiers.
