Mudavadi reveals fresh details on agencies recruiting Kenyans for the Russia-Ukraine war
By Emmanuel Rono, April 2, 2026Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi has disclosed fresh details regarding the registered agencies recruiting Kenyan nationals to the Russian army amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking while appearing before the Senate Committee on National Security, Defense, and Foreign Relations on Thursday, April 2, 2026, Mudavadi said the government has identified a network of individuals and entities involved in luring young people with promises of lucrative job opportunities, only for them to end up in active war zones.
“We have had a multi-agency process led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation, supported by other government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, and other entities, and we have on record two arrested individuals who were charged with human trafficking,” Mudavadi noted.
Mudavadi’s revelation comes after growing concern over the recruitment of Kenyans into foreign conflicts, particularly amid reports of Africans being enlisted into the ongoing war involving Russia.
Irregular recruitment
He said that the two individuals were charged in September 2025 and February 2026 following the irregular recruitment. He said that they recruited three Kenyans and confined 22 others for Russian army jobs.
“The individuals from the registered agency were arrested and charged in September 2026 and February 2026, respectively, for human trafficking for irregular recruitment and confining four Kenyans and 22 others with intentions of forwarding them to join the Russian army,” Mudavadi said.
Number of Kenyans recruited
The disclosure came as the State outlined the scale of enlistment and the measures being taken to stop further recruitment and repatriate affected citizens.
“Kenyans recruited into the Russian military received signing bonuses of up to Ksh3 million and monthly salaries of up to Ksh350,000,” he told lawmakers.
He also revealed that at least 16 Kenyans recruited into the Russian military are currently missing, raising alarm over what the government describes as deceptive enlistment into foreign combat operations.
“Under the current status of investigations into the reported deceptive recruitment of Kenyan citizens, I wish to respond as follows. Until yesterday, we had 10 Kenyans who had been reported missing in action. This number has now increased. We have a figure of 16 Kenyans,” Mudavadi told senators.