Govt tightens noose on recruiters sending Kenyans to Ukraine-Russia war
By Mustafa Juma, March 18, 2026The government has moved to crack down on rogue recruitment agencies accused of luring Kenyans into the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on the night of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who doubles up as foreign and diaspora affairs cabinet secretary, revealed plans to introduce a new law aimed at tightening oversight and accountability.
Draft Bill
Mudavadi said a draft Bill is set to be tabled in Parliament to regulate agencies involved in overseas recruitment, following growing concerns that some firms are secretly facilitating the enlistment of Kenyans into foreign military operations.
“There is a draft Bill which we are going to forward to Parliament where we have made certain proposals on how to make it tighter and make any agencies involved in this kind of business to be more accountable, keep proper records and have a reporting mechanism where what they are doing can be verified on a regular basis; this has not been the case in the past,” Mudavadi said.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce stricter compliance measures, including mandatory record-keeping, regular reporting, and enhanced monitoring of recruitment agencies to curb illegal or deceptive practices.
Mudavadi noted that the absence of a robust regulatory framework in the past created loopholes that rogue actors have exploited, putting the lives of Kenyans at risk.
Mudavadi’s concerns
Mudavadi had earlier raised alarm over the growing number of Kenyans being lured into or finding their way into foreign conflicts, warning that many are joining wars without fully understanding the risks involved.
Speaking while addressing delegates during the 60th anniversary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa in Nairobi on Friday, February 27, 2026, Mudavadi stated that Kenya is facing the challenge of its own Kenyans finding their way through whatever means to go and fight in a war they do not understand.
He insisted that this is something that must concern the country.
“We are facing the challenge of our own Kenyans finding their way through whatever means to go and fight in a war they don’t understand. This is something that we must be concerned about as a country,” Mudavadi remarked.
“Some of these young people are being misled through misinformation, false promises, and irregular recruitment channels. They end up exposing themselves to danger and suffering consequences they never anticipated,” he added.
Over 1000 Kenyans lured
More than 1,000 Kenyans have been lured to fight for Russia in its war with Ukraine, according to an intelligence report to the Kenyan parliament that highlights the scale of a Russian operation taking African men to the frontline.
According to the intelligence report, employment agencies were targeting former military personnel, police officers, and civilians from their mid-20s to 50 years old “who are desperate for job opportunities abroad”.
The employment agencies were enticing Kenyans by promising them monthly salaries of about Ksh350,000 (£2,000), bonuses of between Ksh900,000 and Ksh1.2 million, and eventual Russian citizenship, the report said.