Over 200 Kenyans fighting for Russia in Ukraine, says Musalia Mudavadi
According to Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, approximately 200 Kenyans are currently fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, with the potential for more to be recruited. Among these individuals are former members of Kenya's security forces.
The minister further revealed that some of those rescued from the conflict zone have reported being forced to assemble drones and handle chemicals without proper training or protective gear. This has raised concerns among Kenyan authorities.
Kenyan President William Ruto recently requested the Ukrainian government to secure the release of Kenyans currently held in the conflict zone. It is estimated that around 1,400 citizens from across Africa are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, with some recruited through deception.
A young Kenyan athlete was captured in Ukraine in September and claimed that he had been tricked into joining the Russian army. Minister Mudavadi stated in a press conference that recruitment exercises in Russia have expanded to include African nationals, including Kenyans.
The Kenyan government is also concerned about the increasing number of nationals who have been recruited into forced criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and forced labor in foreign countries. Minister Mudavadi emphasized that these crimes pose a significant threat to Kenya's national security and global security.
In September, Kenyan authorities rescued more than 20 nationals near the capital, Nairobi, who were preparing to join the Russia-Ukraine war. One individual suspected of coordinating the recruitment of Kenyans to Russia was arrested and is facing prosecution.
The BBC has uncovered evidence suggesting that the Kremlin is actively working to expand its sphere of influence in Africa. South Africa has launched an investigation into how 17 of its citizens ended up in the war-torn region of Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
Petro Yatsenko, Ukraine's spokesperson on the treatment of prisoners of war, recently informed the BBC that citizens of Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka, among others, are currently being held in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps.
