US EditionKenya: Mudavadi Secures Deal Barring Recruitment of Kenyans Into Russian Army
Kenya will repatriate recruited citizens and end irregular enlistment after over 1,000 joined Russia’s military, amid concerns for their safety and illegal recruitment networks.
- On Mar 18, 2026, Musalia Mudavadi said a deal reached in Moscow will prevent Kenyans from being recruited into the Russian military, according to reports.
- Reports emerged that unregulated recruiters targeted Kenyans seeking work abroad, with Nairobi estimating more than 1,000 joined and Kyiv intelligence finding over 1,700 Africans recruited regionally.
- So far, 27 repatriated Kenyans received psychological support from Kenyan consular teams, while authorities targeted hundreds of recruitment agencies misleading nationals and facilitating their return.
- The government says recruited Kenyans will not receive compensation, and Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary, said enlistment was not sanctioned while some face charges with investigative agencies in Kenya.
- Mudavadi framed Kenya's ties with Russia around trade, while Lavrov said recruits signed contracts voluntarily, contrasting lawmakers' allegations of trafficking networks.
15 Articles
15 Articles
On a visit to Moscow, Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Minister and Head of Kenyan Diplomacy, said on Monday that Russia would have agreed to stop recruiting Kenyan nationals to fight on the Russian-Ukrainian front. They would have been more than 1,000 enlisted, according to Kenyan intelligence.
Kenya says citizens will no longer be recruited to fight in Ukraine
Kenyan citizens will no longer be recruited to take part in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said this in Moscow on Monday, March 16, after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “The minister discussed with us the issue of Kenyans who are in Russia We agreed that Kenyans will no longer be enlisted into the armed forces (of Russia) through the ministry of defense,” Russia’s state news agency TASS…
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