Russia Denies Recruiting Kenyans to Fight in Ukraine After Intelligence Report
The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has denied claims that it is recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight in Ukraine, calling the allegations “dangerous and misleading propaganda.”
The statement followed a report by National Intelligence Service presented to the Parliament of Kenya. The report alleged cooperation between recruitment agencies, officials from several government departments and staff at the Russian mission in Nairobi to facilitate the travel of Kenyans to join Russia’s military.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah told Parliament that the intelligence findings pointed to the involvement of officers from the Kenya Airports Authority, the immigration department, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Employment Authority. These individuals were alleged to have worked with embassy staff to process travel documents.
According to the report, visas were issued through the Russian Embassy in Nairobi and the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow, enabling recruits to travel to Russia. In its response, the embassy said Russian authorities had never conducted illegal recruitment of Kenyan nationals.
It said that while Russian law allows foreign residents to enlist voluntarily in the military, no visas had been issued specifically for participation in what Moscow describes as its “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine. The clarification has not resolved concerns within Kenya, where reports of recruitment continue.
The issue gained attention last year when police arrested Russian national Mikhail Lyapin over alleged recruitment activities. He was initially described as an embassy staff member. The embassy denied this and said he had been questioned about private business matters before leaving the country. No prosecution followed.
Security analysts have questioned how Kenyan nationals have been able to obtain visas and enlist in Russia’s military despite official denials. Families of those recruited say many were promised employment as drivers or security guards but were later deployed to the front lines. There have also been reports of deaths, injuries and disappearances among Kenyan nationals.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has described the recruitment as unacceptable and clandestine. He is expected to travel to Moscow to seek an agreement preventing the conscription of Kenyan citizens. Kenyan authorities estimate that more than 1,000 nationals may already have been recruited.
The embassy has said it remains open to dialogue with Kenyan authorities and pointed to existing bilateral discussions on labour migration and security cooperation.
