Russia Launches Compensation Programme for Kenyan Families Affected by Ukraine War
Russia is working with Kenya’s State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow to identify the families of Kenyan nationals who were killed or remain missing after becoming involved in the war in Ukraine, ahead of a planned compensation programme.
The process involves verifying the identities of those affected and confirming their next of kin before any compensation is paid. Kenyan officials are working with their Russian counterparts to complete the necessary checks before the programme can proceed.
The development follows reports over the past two years that some Kenyans travelled to Russia after accepting what they believed were legitimate employment opportunities but later became involved in the conflict. Some are believed to have been recruited into military operations through misleading contracts or private security companies.
In several cases, families in Kenya said they lost contact with relatives soon after they left the country, raising concerns about exploitation and human trafficking.
Kenyan authorities have repeatedly advised job seekers to be cautious when accepting employment opportunities abroad.
They have urged people to deal only with licensed recruitment agencies and to ensure that all employment offers are supported by the required documentation before travelling. Labour experts say the compensation process highlights broader challenges facing Kenya’s labour migration system.
They have called for stronger regulation of recruitment agencies, wider public awareness campaigns and closer cooperation between Kenya and foreign governments to verify overseas job offers. Officials are continuing to verify the identities of those affected and establish the rightful beneficiaries of the compensation.
