Russia recruits over 1,000 Kenyans to fight in Putin’s war in Ukraine, intelligence report says

A caller Kenyan intelligence study says that 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to conflict for Russia successful Ukraine aft being misled pinch mendacious promises of jobs successful Russia earlier being sent to nan beforehand lines.

The study was presented to parliament connected Wednesday by parliamentary leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who accused Russian embassy officials of colluding pinch activity recruitment agencies to dupe Kenyans into believing they would beryllium fixed skilled jobs successful Russia. He said nan Russian embassy officials issued them tourer visas.

The Russian Embassy successful Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, denied nan allegations, saying successful a connection Thursday that it ne'er issued visas to anyone intending to recreation to Russia to conflict successful Ukraine. It added: “the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of overseas countries from voluntarily enlisting successful nan equipped forces.”

Ichung’wah told parliament that said nan National Intelligence Service study shows that 89 Kenyans were connected nan beforehand line, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing successful action, others had returned home, and astatine slightest 1 was confirmed dead. The study besides provides specifications astir nan recruitment agencies that allegedly took Kenyans to Russia.

He warned that immoderate Kenyan officials moving successful nan country’s embassy successful Moscow would beryllium held responsible if they are recovered to person colluded successful nan scheme.

Dozens of Kenyan families person successful caller weeks urged nan authorities to bring backmost loved ones stranded successful Russia, pinch immoderate allegedly forced to conflict connected nan beforehand lines and others held arsenic prisoners of warfare successful Ukraine.

Kenyan recruits who person returned to nan state person fixed accounts of being promised skilled jobs specified arsenic electricians and plumbers. They opportunity they signed contracts written successful Russian and were sent to conflict pinch small aliases nary subject training.

Kenya’s overseas ministry had antecedently acknowledged nan problem, and urged citizens to beryllium careful.

Two recruiters were arrested past twelvemonth and released connected bail arsenic they await trial.