Kenya’s foreign minister has revealed that more than 200 Kenyan nationals are believed to be fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking during a parliamentary briefing, the minister said the government had received verified reports of Kenyans who were recruited—some voluntarily, others under misleading promises of employment or military training.
“We have confirmed that several of our citizens are in Russia’s military ranks,” the minister stated. “Many were enticed by job offers and later found themselves deployed to the frontlines.”
The Kenyan government has expressed concern over the safety of its citizens and urged them to avoid foreign military engagements. Diplomatic efforts are reportedly underway to verify identities and seek possible repatriations.
Analysts say the revelation underscores growing global recruitment efforts amid manpower shortages in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Kenya joins a list of African countries where citizens have been drawn into the war through both official and informal channels.