Promised $2,400 a month — sent to the battlefield after days of training. A new intelligence report reveals how Kenyans ended up in the Russia-Ukraine war.
More than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight on Russia’s side in the war in Ukraine, according to a classified report submitted to parliament by Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The report, presented Wednesday by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, describes what he called a “deeply disturbing” network of rogue officials allegedly working with human trafficking syndicates to funnel recruits into the conflict. As of February, 89 Kenyans were reportedly on the front lines. Another 35 were in military camps in Russia, 39 injured and 28 listed as missing.
Those targeted, the report says, include former military personnel, ex-police officers and unemployed men aged 20 to 50. Recruiters allegedly promised salaries of up to 350,000 Kenyan shillings ($2,400) per month, along with hefty bonuses. Instead, many found themselves deployed to combat zones after only weeks — or in some cases days — of weapons training.
“They are told you are going to work as a guard… only to get there and you are taken to military camps,” Ichung’wah told lawmakers. “They are basically just giving you a gun to go and die.”
The intelligence report outlines alleged collusion involving recruitment agencies and rogue airport staff, immigration officers, and officials from Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations. It also claims possible involvement of individuals linked to diplomatic missions, allegations the Russian embassy in Nairobi has strongly denied.
In a statement, the embassy rejected what it called “dangerous and misleading” claims and said it had never issued visas to Kenyans seeking to participate in Russia’s “Special Military Operation.” It added that while Russia does not recruit abroad, foreign nationals legally present in Russia may volunteer under Russian law.
Kenyan authorities say they have shut down more than 600 suspect recruitment agencies and are working with Moscow to curb illegal enlistment. Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi is expected to visit Russia next month to discuss the issue further.
So far, 27 Kenyan nationals have been repatriated, with psychological support provided upon return. Pressure is mounting on Nairobi to dismantle trafficking networks and prevent further departures, especially as reports emerge of African nationals killed in the conflict.
The revelations highlight how global wars can reach deep into vulnerable communities thousands of miles away — turning economic desperation into a pipeline to distant battlefields.
