Kenya is stepping up diplomatic and legal measures after hundreds of its citizens were drawn into the Russia–Ukraine war through what authorities describe as illegal recruitment networks, with some now freed and others facing possible prosecution at home.
Foreign Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told lawmakers on Wednesday that Kenyan law strictly prohibits citizens from serving in foreign military or security forces without state approval. Citing provisions under the country’s penal code, he stressed that such actions could attract penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
“Once it is established they have been involved in this exercise, they stand to face the full force of the law for engaging in criminal activities,” he said. Mudavadi added that many of those who travelled to fight in the conflict “went there with full knowledge and willingly,” despite the legal risks.
The government’s response follows intense global media scrutiny, including reporting by Bloomberg, which helped expose the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into Russia’s war effort. Under mounting pressure, Russia has since halted the enlistment of Kenyans, according to officials.
Details emerging from diplomatic briefings show that many recruits were lured by promises of financial rewards and long-term benefits. Some reportedly signed contracts offering Russian citizenship alongside sign-on bonuses of up to 3 million Kenyan shillings (about $23,000). Others were enticed with offers framed as civilian jobs, security work, or even educational opportunities.
Kenya’s foreign ministry disclosed last month that as many as 252 citizens had been illegally recruited into Russian military operations. At least 10 are feared dead, while 38 have been injured. A February report by Inpact estimates that around 316 Africans have died fighting against Ukraine, many of them allegedly deployed without formal military training.
Investigations suggest that recruiters often target vulnerable groups, including unemployed youth, police officers, and former soldiers, particularly in countries facing economic hardship such as Kenya. Incentives typically include upfront payments of up to 1.2 million shillings ($9,309) and monthly salaries of about 350,000 shillings ($2,715).
However, the reality upon arrival appears far more coercive. Reports indicate that some recruits had their passports confiscated and were pressured into signing military contracts—often written in Russian or laden with complex legal language they could not fully understand. In certain cases, clandestine networks facilitated their movement using forged documents and indirect transit routes across multiple countries.
Authorities say recruitment operations have relied heavily on social media advertising, informal brokers, and shadowy intermediaries, making them difficult to track. As investigations continue, Kenya is working to dismantle these networks while warning citizens against falling prey to similar schemes.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah