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Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced that Russia has agreed to stop deploying Kenyan nationals to fight in the war in Ukraine. The announcement followed talks in Moscow between Mudavadi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. This agreement comes after a Kenyan intelligence report in February estimated that over 1,000 Kenyan citizens had been recruited to fight for Russia.
"I want to make it clear that we have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted through the [Russian] Ministry of Defence - they will no longer be eligible to be enlisted," Mudavadi said. "There will be no further enlisting."
Lavrov did not comment on the reported agreement but said that all Kenyans - and citizens of other countries - had enlisted voluntarily to fight for Russia "in full compliance with Russian law, which also provides for the possibility of early termination of the contract".
Some Kenyans have said they were lured to fight for Russia with promises of well-paid civilian jobs, only to find themselves forced into fighting in Ukraine,
Mudavadi is also seeking the repatriation of Kenyans who wish to return home.
He last month said that Kenyan authorities had closed more than 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs overseas.
Kenyan lawmakers say rogue state officials have been working with human trafficking networks to recruit citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine. So far 27 Kenyans who had been fighting in Russia have been repatriated, with authorities providing psychological care to address their trauma and "de-radicalise" them, Mudavadi said.
It is not clear how many Kenyans have died fighting for Russian forces, and Russia has not formally addressed such reports. Relatives who have approached the Russian embassy in Nairobi for answers report being turned away.
Public pressure has also grown. In February, families of Kenyans believed to be fighting in Ukraine held a protest outside parliament in Nairobi, calling for government action and the return of their relatives.
During his visit to Moscow, Mudavadi also intends to negotiate an agreement allowing Kenyans easier access to the Russian job market.
Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimates that more than 1,700 people from 36 countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia.
