Kenyans enlisted to fight for Russia in the war against Ukraine will be granted amnesty on their return home, the East African nation's foreign minister has said. The announcement follows Musalia Mudavadi's recent visit to Moscow to tackle the issue and where it was agreed that no more Kenyans would be recruited. Under Kenya's laws, it is illegal for the country's citizens to be conscripted into foreign armies - an offense that can carry up to a 10-year prison sentence.
The foreign ministry estimates that 252 Kenyans have been illegally conscripted to fight on the front line, a trend that began about six months ago and has also involved recruits from other African countries. Many Kenyans indicated they were lured to fight for Russia with promises of well-paid civilian jobs, only to find themselves forced into combat in Ukraine, often signing contracts in Russian without fully understanding the terms.
"So far 44 Kenyans have been safely repatriated home while 11 have been reported missing or killed, 38 are hospitalized in various Russian hospitals, and 160 are still actively engaged," Mudavadi stated. He also negotiated a deal for those unwilling to continue fighting to return home. The Russian government has agreed to a 'stop list' aimed at halting further recruitment from Kenya.
Mudavadi's visit was prompted by family members of those recruited who called for government intervention. The Kenyan authorities had previously closed more than 600 recruitment agencies believed to be deceiving citizens with promises of overseas jobs. Russia has maintained that all foreign fighters joined voluntarily, in compliance with Russian law.
The foreign ministry estimates that 252 Kenyans have been illegally conscripted to fight on the front line, a trend that began about six months ago and has also involved recruits from other African countries. Many Kenyans indicated they were lured to fight for Russia with promises of well-paid civilian jobs, only to find themselves forced into combat in Ukraine, often signing contracts in Russian without fully understanding the terms.
"So far 44 Kenyans have been safely repatriated home while 11 have been reported missing or killed, 38 are hospitalized in various Russian hospitals, and 160 are still actively engaged," Mudavadi stated. He also negotiated a deal for those unwilling to continue fighting to return home. The Russian government has agreed to a 'stop list' aimed at halting further recruitment from Kenya.
Mudavadi's visit was prompted by family members of those recruited who called for government intervention. The Kenyan authorities had previously closed more than 600 recruitment agencies believed to be deceiving citizens with promises of overseas jobs. Russia has maintained that all foreign fighters joined voluntarily, in compliance with Russian law.
