Revealed: At least 1,000 Kenyans fighting for Russia
At least 1,000 Kenyans have reportedly been recruited and deployed to fight in the Russian-Ukrainian war, with some of them leaving the country through tourist visas to join the Russian army...
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Over 1,000 Kenyans are reportedly fighting for Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war, with some traveling on tourist visas and being enticed by promises of high salaries and Russian citizenship. Kimani Ichung’wah, Leader of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, revealed these findings in Parliament based on a National Intelligence Service (NIS) statement.
- As of February, 39 Kenyans are hospitalized, 89 are on the frontline, and 28 are missing.
- Recruits are promised salaries of up to Sh300,000 per month and bonuses between Sh900,000 and Sh1.2 million.
- Agencies, including Global Face Human Resources Limited owned by Festus Omwamba, collude with airport staff and Russian embassy officials to facilitate recruitment.
- Recruits pay significant fees, with confirmed payments of up to Sh1.16 million from some returnees.
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Russian Embassy Denies Recruiting Kenyans Following NIS Report of Over 1,000 Fighting for Russia - February 2026
A National Intelligence Service (NIS) report revealed that over 1,000 Kenyans are reportedly fighting for Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war. The findings, presented in Parliament, suggest some were enticed by high salaries and promises of Russian citizenship. In response, the Russian Embassy in Nairobi denied the allegations of recruiting Kenyans, calling the claims "dangerous and misleading propaganda." The embassy stated that Kenyans are free to join its armed forces if they are legally present in Russia. Kenya's DCI also reportedly uncovered a network facilitating recruitment.
