Kenya’s Top Diplomat to Moscow Amid Concerns Over Citizens Fighting for Russia
NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi plans to travel to Moscow to address the growing number of Kenyan citizens reportedly recruited to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, a move highlighting the Kremlin’s widening search for fighters and raising concerns about human trafficking.
Mudavadi announced Tuesday he intends to press Russian officials to halt the recruitment, which Nairobi estimates involves around 200 Kenyans. Ukrainian intelligence suggests Russia has recruited over 1,400 fighters from 36 African nations, though Moscow denies actively seeking foreign combatants.
“We have seen loss of lives, and I am planning to make a visit to Moscow so that we can emphasize that is something that needs to be arrested,” Mudavadi said in a statement. No date for the trip has been announced.
The recruitment efforts, initially focused on former Soviet republics in Central Asia, then India and Nepal, have increasingly turned to African nations, according to Yurii Tokar, Ukraine’s ambassador to Kenya. “They are looking for people for cannon fodder everywhere it is possible,” Tokar told the Associated Press.
Kenyan authorities have been cracking down on recruitment agencies promising lucrative overseas jobs, only to funnel young men into the Russian military. Over the past two months, more than 30 Kenyans have been evacuated from Russia, and 600 suspect agencies have been shut down.
In September, police rescued 21 young men preparing to fly to Russia, leading to the arrest of a recruitment agency employee on human trafficking charges. A Russian citizen, Mikhail Lyapin, allegedly involved in the scheme was expelled from Kenya at Moscow’s request.
The situation underscores a growing international concern about the exploitation of vulnerable populations for military purposes. The Kenyan government is also focusing on the wellbeing of those who have returned, providing psychological care to address trauma and “de-radicalize” them.
Mudavadi also intends to seek the release of Kenyans held as prisoners of war in Ukraine and assess the condition of those hospitalized. He plans to discuss visa policies and bilateral labor agreements with Russia to explicitly ban military conscription.
The full extent of Kenyan casualties in Ukraine remains unknown, adding to the anguish of families and fueling the government’s urgency to address the issue.
This situation highlights the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict in Ukraine, extending its reach far beyond Eastern Europe and impacting nations across the globe. The recruitment of foreign fighters raises serious ethical and legal questions, and Kenya’s diplomatic efforts represent a crucial step in protecting its citizens and upholding international norms.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
