Kenya: 27 Kenyans Conscripted Into Russia-Ukraine War Rescued and Repatriated - Mudavadi

Oleksandr Ratushniak / UNDP Ukraine / Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Irpin, Kyiv Oblast in Ukraine on April 1, 2022.
10 February 2026
Capital FM (Nairobi)

Nairobi — The government has successfully rescued and repatriated 27 Kenyans stranded in Russia after being illegally enlisted to fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed.

Mudavadi said their safe return was secured through swift diplomatic and consular interventions coordinated by Kenya's mission in Moscow.

He revealed that most victims were misled by recruitment networks linked to the Russian military, lured with false promises of work abroad.

"We have facilitated 27 Kenyans to come back home away from the frontline and from what they thought were different jobs but ended up being lured into battle," Mudavadi stated.

Some reported severe injuries and being forced to handle hazardous tasks, including assembling drones without proper training or protective gear.

Mudavadi announced plans to visit Moscow to engage the Russian government directly and prevent further recruitment of Kenyan citizens.

He stressed that the government will continue to provide psychosocial support and structured reintegration programs to help returnees recover and reintegrate into society safely.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2026 Capital FM. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.