By Dalena Reporters — Nairobi, Kenya — 12 November 2025
The government of Kenya has disclosed that more than 200 of its citizens are actively fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war in Ukraine, raising alarm over an expanding recruitment network targeting African nationals. The warning emerged in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya on Wednesday, which said the recruitment of Kenyans by Russian-linked agencies remains “active in both Kenya and Russia”.
The disclosure follows a report from Ukraine’s foreign ministry that at least 1,400 individuals from 36 African nations are fighting for Russia, many of whom were allegedly recruited under false pretences or coerced into service.
According to the Kenyan government’s statement, the embassy in Moscow has recorded injuries among its nationals believed to have been deployed, and believes some were promised up to US $18,000 to cover visas, travel and accommodation as part of the recruitment process.
A raid carried out near Nairobi in September exposed part of the network: 21 Kenyans were rescued who were being prepared for deployment to the conflict zone under the guise of non-combat roles such as drone assembly, chemical handling or painting. One individual has been arrested and is facing prosecution in Kenya for coordinating the recruitment.
The Kenyan government described the recruitment efforts as “unscrupulous” and urged citizens to guard themselves against exploitation by unlicensed overseas employment agencies. It also emphasised that the nationals involved often did not fully grasp the military nature of their engagement when they were recruited.
Analysts say the revelation raises broader regional concerns about how vulnerable populations are being drawn into global conflicts via deceptive labour-recruitment channels, and how African governments must boost cross-border cooperation, intelligence, and protection measures to stop exploitation of their citizens.
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