Russia recruits Kenyans for war in Ukraine: how the deception scheme works.

According to ТСН: Russia is deceitfully recruiting dozens of Kenyans for participation in the war against Ukraine, reports Bloomberg.

Martin Mburu, who departed on October 21 on an Air Arabia flight from Nairobi to Moscow, hoped to find a well-paying job as a driver or a security guard. Kenyan and Russian recruiters promised him a salary of 250,000 shillings (approximately 2000 USD) per month.

His wife, Grace Gatoni, last spoke with Mburu on November 19. Two days later, she learned from the news that the 38-year-old minibus driver had died on the front lines in Ukraine, having joined the army of the occupiers.

“It was such a shock. He had no military experience and had only undergone three days of training,” Gatoni comments from her simple home on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital.

According to the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mburu is one of at least 200 Kenyans who were deceptively lured to Russia under the guise of job offers. In many cases, potential human traffickers in Kenya and Russia promised minibus drivers jobs before altering their documents and sending them to Russia for military training.

Experience of African mercenaries

In November, Ukrainian officials noted that over 1,400 individuals from various African countries are fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. In particular, Bloomberg reported that the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma was involved in recruiting men from South Africa and Botswana.

The Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations is currently actively investigating cases of deceptive recruitment of Kenyans for war, said the state prosecutor. The Kenyan government is cooperating with the Russian Federation to repatriate citizens from military camps.

“We are cooperating with the government of the Russian Federation to facilitate the movement of Kenyan citizens, including those in military camps, to Kenya’s mission in Moscow for further repatriation,” stated the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kenyan President William Ruto also thanked Ukraine for its assistance in rescuing Kenyans who were deceived and recruited to fight on the side of Russia.

Relatives of the Kenyans are aware that their loved ones are being used as 'cannon fodder' on the front line, noted lawyer Wainaina Ngugi, who represents families whose relatives were taken to Russia. He stated that families were unable to return the bodies of the deceased, while others had lost contact with the living.

The mentioned Mburu communicated with his family before his death and wrote to the Kenyan government about his dire situation, complaining about the necessity to sign a contract written in Russian, a language he did not understand.

The mercenary's wife Gatoni showed pictures of her husband alongside a Kenyan and a Russian in full military gear, with firearms in their hands. Their smiles raise doubts about whether they realize that they are soldiers of the Russian army.

The lawyer also revealed that the departure of Kenyans from the international airport in Nairobi occurs under the supervision of agents with access to airport grounds. They meet new recruits and go through immigration control.

Additionally, the consulate services of the Russian embassy in Nairobi issued some clients one-time electronic visas valid for 30 days.

It should be noted that in September, troops of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade captured a Kenyan mercenary of the Russian army in the Vovchansk direction.

This situation highlights the serious risks faced by individuals seeking work, especially when offers seem too attractive. Kenyan authorities are taking steps to protect their citizens who have fallen victim to deception and are trying to bring them home. The issue of recruiting Africans to participate in the war in Ukraine continues to remain on the agenda, and its development raises concerns in the international community.