Kenyans fighting illegally for Russia in Ukraine to be granted amnesty

Kenyans fighting illegally for Russia in Ukraine will be granted amnesty on their return home, according to the East African nation’s foreign minister. The announcement follows Musalia Mudavadi’s recent visit to Moscow to tackle the issue, and it was agreed that no more Kenyans would be recruited.

The foreign ministry estimates that 252 Kenyans have been illegally conscripted to fight on the front line - a trend that began about six months ago. 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. According to Mudavadi, "44 Kenyans have been safely repatriated back home, while 11 have been reported missing in action/killed in action, 38 are currently hospitalised in various Russian hospitals under restricted access, leaving 160 Kenyans officers still actively involved." Mudavadi also negotiated a deal that allowed Kenyans currently on the front line and “unwilling to continue in the assignment ” to disengage and be freed to travel back home. Russia has previously insisted that all foreign fighters joined voluntarily ”in full compliance with Russian law”.

According to Kenya’s foreign ministry, the two countries will begin efforts to “thwart human trafficking, smuggling and illegal recruitment” to the Russian war effort. Mudavadi and his Russian counterpart agreed to put Kenya on what was called a “stop list” to prevent the further recruitment of Kenyans. Last month, the foreign minister told the BBC the Kenyan authorities had closed more than 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs overseas.