Family holds symbolic funeral for Kenyan soldier who died fighting for Russia

Residents of Mukhunga Village in Busia County gathered over the weekend for a symbolic burial ceremony for Oscar Khagola Mutoka, a former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) serviceman believed to have died while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Because his body was never recovered, the family buried stones in place of a coffin during the ceremony. Relatives said Mutoka went missing on the battlefield months ago, and they have not received official confirmation about the circumstances of his death or the location of his remains.

According to family members, Mutoka travelled to Russia in June 2025 after telling relatives he had secured work abroad. His journey reportedly took him through Istanbul before he arrived in St Petersburg. Communication with his family remained regular during the first weeks after his departure but later became less frequent before stopping completely.

His father, Charles Mutoka, said Oscar later informed the family that he had joined the Russian military after undergoing what relatives described as a brief period of training. Having previously served in the KDF before resigning, he already had military experience. The family said he was deployed to the front line soon afterwards and is believed to have died on 14 August 2025.

Relatives said they repeatedly sought assistance from government offices in Nairobi but received little information. Charles Mutoka said the family had been promised support in returning his son’s body, but those efforts did not succeed, leading them to proceed with a symbolic burial.

Mutoka’s widow, Milcah Nelima, said the family had faced financial difficulties for several years before he decided to leave Kenya. After leaving the military, she said, he worked as a private security guard assigned to politicians while supporting his household.

Nelima said Oscar initially described his move to Russia as a work opportunity and asked for help in preparing medical documents required for travel. She said communication continued normally after his arrival until he later informed relatives that he had joined military operations. Contact with him then stopped completely.

The family said the uncertainty surrounding his death has been particularly difficult for his children, who have struggled to understand why their father’s burial took place without a body or coffin. Nelima said explaining the situation to them had been emotionally difficult.

Oscar’s sister, Mary Orendo, said his final phone call suggested fear and regret. According to her, he told relatives that the people around him “were not good” and implied that he regretted travelling there. The family later learned through unofficial channels that he had allegedly died weeks after that conversation.

Relatives also questioned the response from Kenyan authorities. They said officials initially denied knowledge of recruitment activities connected to the Russia-Ukraine war, but the family was later contacted about compensation procedures and asked to provide documentation.