Hundreds of Kenyan families are still searching for answers after new government figures revealed the extent to which citizens have been drawn into Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The latest data shows that many Kenyans who joined the Russian military remain unaccounted for, while dozens have either died or gone missing.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu said a total of 289 Kenyans have at some point been recruited into the Russian military. Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, she disclosed that only 64 of those individuals have managed to return home since the conflict began.
According to government records, at least 69 Kenyans are either confirmed dead or missing in action.
The information was provided by Russian authorities and has been verified through reports from families and some of the Kenyans who enlisted.
Njogu acknowledged the harsh realities of war, noting that casualties are expected in armed conflicts.
“Because it is a war, it is expected that lives will be lost. Armed conflict means people are dying,” she said.
The figures also show that around 153 Kenyans remain in military camps, are believed to be fighting on the front line, or their current whereabouts are unknown.
This means that a large number of families are still waiting for information about loved ones who travelled abroad seeking opportunities but ended up involved in the conflict.
The Principal Secretary reminded Kenyans that the country is not part of the Russia-Ukraine war and warned that joining a foreign military without government approval is against Kenyan law.
Under Section 68 of the Penal Code, citizens are prohibited from enlisting in a foreign army unless they receive permission from the President.
She explained that Kenyans who returned from Russia would normally have faced legal action for violating the law.
However, the government chose to grant them amnesty, allowing them to return and reunite with their families without being arrested or prosecuted.
Njogu also revealed that Kenya and Russia have reached an agreement aimed at preventing any further recruitment of Kenyan citizens into the Russian military.
The deal was reached following discussions between Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Russian officials earlier this year.
According to the PS, Russia agreed to place Kenya on a “stop list”, effectively ending the recruitment of Kenyans into what Russia describes as its special military operations.
She said no new Kenyan recruits have been reported since the agreement was reached.
The understanding was part of talks held in March 2026 between Mudavadi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The two countries also agreed that any Kenyans found in military camps against their will would be handed over to Kenya’s Embassy in Moscow for immediate repatriation.
Despite the progress made in stopping recruitment, uncertainty remains for many families.
More than half of the Kenyans known to have joined the Russian military have not returned home, leaving relatives anxious about their safety and future.
Njogu urged Kenyans seeking jobs abroad to follow legal migration procedures and carefully verify employment opportunities.
She warned that promises of work can sometimes lead people into dangerous situations, adding that the consequences have been devastating for many Kenyan families affected by the conflict.
Add Comment