Kenyans will no longer be recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine, the minister has announced
Kenya announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with Russia stating that Kenyans would no longer be permitted to enlist to fight in the war with Ukraine, following widespread anger in several African nations over the extent of Russian recruitment efforts.
Kenya reports that over 1,000 Kenyans have enlisted to fight, drawn in by monthly salaries reaching several thousand dollars and bonuses exceeding $6,000 for contract soldiers.
Following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi expressed appreciation for the relationship with Moscow, highlighting the Soviet recognition of Kenyan independence from Britain in 1963.
Regarding the matter of Kenyans participating in what the Kremlin refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine, Mudavadi stated that a consensus has been established to prevent Kenyans from enlisting to fight. “His excellency has discussed with us the welfare of Kenyans currently in Russia, particularly those engaged in the special operation,” Mudavadi remarked during a joint news briefing with Lavrov.
“I want to emphasize that we have now reached an agreement stating that Kenyans will no longer be enlisted through the (Russian) Ministry of Defence—they will no longer be eligible for enlistment,” he stated. “There will be no further enlisting.”
He stated that consular services would be arranged through appropriate diplomatic channels for those Kenyans who had already registered and needed assistance.
Lavrov stated that Kenyan citizens had willingly entered into contracts to fight alongside the Russian army.
The exact number of Africans who have gone to fight in Ukraine remains uncertain, but Kyiv reports that more than 1,700 Africans are fighting on the Russian side. The Russian defense ministry did not provide a response to a request for comment.
MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS
Prior to the journey to Moscow, Mudavadi expressed to Reuters his desire to prevent Kenyans from joining the fight. “We want Kenyans stopped—they should not be enlisted at all,” Mudavadi stated. “There is significant pressure from several affected families who are increasingly finding the courage to address the issue.”
A Kenyan intelligence report presented to lawmakers in February indicated that over 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited to fight on Russia’s side in the war in Ukraine, a figure five times higher than earlier estimates by authorities.
Kenyan politicians have characterized a network of rogue state officials allegedly colluding with human trafficking syndicates to recruit Kenyans to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Mudavadi stated that Kenya and Russia have the potential to enhance collaboration in the areas of energy, tourism, and agriculture. “We do not want our partnership with Russia to be solely viewed through the lens of the special operation in Ukraine,” he remarked. “The connection between Kenya and Russia extends far beyond that.”
