Kenya and Russia agree no Kenyans will be recruited for Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war News
Kenyan Foreign Minister Engages Russia Amid Concerns Over Citizens Fighting in Ukraine
MOSCOW — Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Monday to discuss the recruitment of Kenyan citizens to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. Following their talks, Mudavadi announced that an agreement had been reached to stop the enlistment of Kenyans through the Russian Ministry of Defence.
“We have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted,” Mudavadi told reporters, indicating the issue has been a point of concern for the Kenyan government.
The discussions took place in Moscow against the backdrop of alarming reports that over 1,780 individuals from 36 African countries are currently involved in the conflict in Ukraine. A recent Kenyan intelligence report estimated that more than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited — a figure significantly higher than previous estimates.
Mudavadi remarked on the welfare of Kenyans in Russia, particularly those engaged in what he referred to as the “special operation” in Ukraine. He assured that consular services would be organized for Kenyans needing assistance through appropriate diplomatic channels.
“We do not want for any reason our partnership with Russia to be defined solely by the special operation agenda,” Mudavadi stated, emphasizing the broader scope of the relationship between Kenya and Russia.
Lavrov, however, did not address the recruitment agreement directly. He noted that the Russian Defence Ministry is examining cases that have caused concern among Kenyan officials, adding that, “Russia is not forcing anyone to enlist.” He claimed that those engaged in combat had done so voluntarily.
The reports of foreign recruitment have sparked criticism in Kenya, with politicians alleging that rogue officials may be colluding with human trafficking networks to facilitate such enlistments. Nairobi has expressed its intention to curtail this practice.
Prior to this meeting, reports surfaced in November that a group of South Africans in the 20-39 age bracket had traveled to Russia under the guise of receiving security training, only to find themselves conscripted into a paramilitary force deployed to Ukraine’s front lines.
