Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich has sounded the alarm over fraudulent job offers luring Kenyans to Russia and Ukraine, cautioning that such promises often lead to forced deployment on the deadly frontlines of the ongoing war.

In a post on Facebook on February 8, 2026, the governor appealed directly to residents: “Good morning, Elgeyo Marakwet County. If you have a relative, friend, brother, son, daughter, neighbour or anyone planning to go to Russia or Ukraine for employment, please stop them immediately.”

Governor Wisley Rotich warned that some Kenyans are being deceived with fake job offers abroad, only to be forced onto the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“They lure you to employment, but in real sense, you will be deployed to the battlefront in the Russia-Ukraine war. Use all means to stop them. We have lost many, and we should not lose any other life.”

He urged those seeking overseas opportunities to consult the county’s Pepea Team for verified, safe alternatives abroad.

Government ramps up diplomatic efforts

The governor’s warning comes amid growing concern over Kenyan youths being deceived by recruitment networks offering lucrative civilian jobs, only to coerce them into combat roles.

Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei announced on February 8, 2026, that the government is intensifying diplomatic efforts to free Kenyans irregularly recruited into the conflict.

“Over the next couple of weeks, we shall be expanding our diplomatic efforts to pursue the release of Kenyans irregularly recruited to serve on the frontlines of this conflict,” PS Sing’oei posted on X.

A day earlier, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that nearly 20 Kenyan youths had been rescued through diplomatic interventions. Speaking at a burial in Kakamega, Mudavadi advised job seekers to verify overseas offers, noting that many victims fell prey to scammers due to desperation.

Deaths highlight danger

The gravity of the scam was underlined by the confirmation of three Kenyan deaths in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian authorities recovered the bodies of Ombwori Denis Bagaka (39), Wahome Simon Gititu (34), and Clinton Nyapara Mogesa (28) on February 6, 2026. The men had previously worked as security guards in Qatar and were lured with high-paying job offers in Russia in late 2025.

Upon arrival, they were reportedly coerced into a penal battalion, briefly trained, and sent into combat near Lyman, a site described by Ukrainian sources as a designated kill zone.

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to devastate entire cities, highlighting the extreme risks facing anyone sent to the frontlines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining engagements through Kenya’s embassy in Moscow, though the number of Kenyans still trapped remains undisclosed.

Families affected continue to demand urgent government action, while ongoing rescues provide some hope amid the crisis.