Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party, has accused President William Ruto and Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua of deceiving Kenyan youths into joining Russia’s war against Ukraine under the guise of overseas jobs.

Gachagua made the claims on February 7, 2026, during a ruracio (dowry) ceremony in Gatundu South, Kiambu County. He spoke at the traditional wedding event of Aloice Kinyanjui, the brother of politician Moses Kuria. Several political figures attended the ceremony, including former nominated senator Millicent Omanga, whose photo with Gachagua later drew attention online.

Addressing the crowd, Gachagua claimed that the government promised young Kenyans jobs abroad but instead sent them into a war zone.

“Before I end, I want to say this. We are feeling so bad when Ruto cheats our children that he is going to give them jobs,” Gachagua said. “He has been taking our kids and flying them to Russia. He had told them that they are going abroad to drive vehicles and jobs in factories.”

Gachagua claimed that once the youths arrived in Russia, authorities forced them into military service without proper training.

“When they reach there, they are taken to the military without better training. They are killed there by bombs and bullets,” he added.

He further claimed that some families never received the bodies of their loved ones.

“They are brought back when they are corpses, and others are not found, forcing families to bury banana trunks,” Gachagua said.

“We want to ask the government… bring our kids back home. We suffer together as long as they remain alive, other than having them back dead.”

Kenyans killed in Ukraine

Gachagua’s remarks followed recent reports from Ukraine confirming the deaths of Kenyan nationals in the conflict. On February 6, 2026, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence announced that it had identified the bodies of two Kenyans near Lyman in the Donetsk region.

The victims were named as Ombwori Denis Bagaka, born on January 30, 1987, and Wahome Simon Gititu, born on May 21, 1991. Their bodies were found near another Kenyan, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who had been killed earlier in the same area.

According to Ukrainian officials, the three men previously worked for security companies in Qatar. Recruiters later lured them to Russia with promises of employment. Bagaka and Mogesa arrived in Yaroslavl on September 27, 2025, for what officials described as brief training. Gititu joined on October 28, 2025.

Russia later deployed them to fight near Lyman, a heavily contested area.

“The Russian command did not take measures to support or evacuate the mercenaries during the battle,” Ukraine’s intelligence service said in a statement.

Back home, families continued to mourn without closure. In Kisii County, Joel Mogere appealed for help to repatriate the body of his brother Clinton.

“He wanted to change our lives,” Mogere said. “We never imagined this would happen.”

In Nyeri County, relatives of Charles Wangari held a memorial service around his portrait on February 5, 2026. Wangari died on Christmas Day 2025 in Ukraine after travelling abroad in search of work, reportedly hoping to reach Sweden.

Mudavadi’s statement

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi previously confirmed that more than 200 Kenyans had taken part in the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Recruitment networks remain active in both Kenya and Russia,” Mudavadi said in 2025 after authorities arrested 21 Kenyans in Athi River while they attempted to travel for false job opportunities.

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, he also said the government had rescued more than 20 Kenyans trapped in the conflict.

“Over 20 Kenyans trapped in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have been rescued.”

President Ruto has defended his labour export programme. Speaking in Malindi on February 5, 2026, he said between 200 and 500 Kenyan youths leave the country each week for jobs abroad in sectors such as construction, hospitality, and healthcare.