Kenyan international minister meets Russian counterpart amid reviews that tons of of Kenyans have been recruited to combat in Russia and Ukraine.
Printed On 16 Mar 2026
Russia has agreed to cease recruiting Kenyan residents to combat with its military in Ukraine, Kenya’s international minister has stated.
Greater than 1,780 residents from 36 African international locations are believed to be combating alongside Russian troopers in Ukraine, based on Ukraine’s estimates in February.
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“Now we have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted via the [Russian] Ministry of Defence,” Kenyan Overseas Minister Musalia Mudavadi informed reporters on Monday.
He made the assertion sitting beside Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov after the 2 held talks in Moscow, Russia.
“His excellency has conversed with us on the challenge of the welfare of Kenyans who’re in Russia and extra particularly those that are concerned within the particular operation,” Mudavadi stated.
“There might be no additional enlisting.”
Mudavadi added that consular providers can be organised for these Kenyans requiring help via correct diplomatic channels.
“We don’t want for any purpose our partnership with Russia to be outlined from the lens of the particular operation [in Ukraine] agenda solely,” he stated. “The connection between Kenya and Russia is far more broader than that.”
Lavrov didn’t point out the settlement in his remarks to the media, however stated the Russian Defence Ministry was wanting into circumstances that had induced “concern amongst our Kenyan associates”.
“Russia is just not forcing anybody to enlist,” Lavrov stated.
He stated that Kenyan residents had voluntarily signed contracts to combat alongside the Russian military.
A Kenyan intelligence report offered to lawmakers in February stated that greater than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited to combat on Russia’s aspect within the struggle in Ukraine, 5 instances greater than authorities had beforehand estimated.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been extensively accused of recruiting international nationals to combat alongside its military.
Kenyan politicians have described what they are saying is a community of rogue state officers who’ve colluded with human trafficking syndicates to recruit Kenyans to combat for Russia in Ukraine, a apply Nairobi stated it needed to cease.
In November, reviews emerged {that a} group of South Africans ages 20-39 had travelled to Russia anticipating to obtain safety coaching.
As an alternative, they have been quickly pressed right into a paramilitary pressure and dispatched to the entrance strains in Ukraine.
