Kenyan MPs Plan Moscow Trip to Bring Home Citizens in Ukraine War

Kenya will dispatch a diplomatic mission to Moscow next week to secure the safe return of its citizens reportedly recruited to fight in the Russia–Ukraine war. 

Belgut MP Nelson Koech, chair of the National Assembly Defence Committee, will travel alongside Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Parliament issued the directive after intelligence suggested that more than 1,000 Kenyans may have been drawn into the conflict through irregular recruitment networks. 

A classified report presented to lawmakers indicated that these networks target former soldiers, police officers, and civilians aged 25 to 50, offering high salaries, large bonuses, and, in some cases, Russian citizenship. Officials warn that these promises are misleading and expose recruits to serious danger in a foreign war.

Mudavadi has repeatedly warned the public about the risks of misinformation. Speaking at a religious gathering in Nairobi, he said many young Kenyans are misled by false offers of opportunity abroad and end up on the frontlines of a conflict they do not fully understand. The government is pursuing both diplomatic and legal avenues to protect citizens and hold recruiters accountable.

Kenya’s strategy is modelled on South Africa’s recent approach, where President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that most nationals recruited into the war were successfully repatriated following direct talks with Russian authorities. Koech said the Kenyan delegation hopes to achieve similar results and implement safeguards to prevent further illegal recruitment.