Kenya says it will talk to Russia over growing reports that its citizens are being recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to the BBC, Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the practice 'unacceptable and clandestine', and said Nairobi had shut down illegal recruiters and would urge Moscow to sign a deal banning the conscription of Kenyan soldiers.
The Kenyan government estimates that around 200 of its nationals have been recruited to fight for Russia. The exact number remains unclear, as Nairobi maintains that none of them travelled through official channels.
'Kenya and Russia have had long relations since independence,' Mudavadi noted, highlighting the unfortunate nature of the current situation. He added that the engagement with Russia aims to prevent illegal recruitment practices, including discussions on visa policy and bilateral labour agreements excluding military conscription.
Additionally, over 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with false job promises have been shut down. So far, 27 Kenyans who had been fighting in Russia have been repatriated, receiving psychological care to address their trauma.
Pressure has been increasing on the Kenyan government to tackle this issue, particularly after the discovery of more bodies of citizens recruited to fight for Russian forces. Families have expressed frustration over the government's failure to regulate and criminalize such clandestine recruitment activities.
Furthermore, Ukrainian officials have warned that individuals fighting for Russia will be treated as enemy combatants, with the only safe route being to surrender."
