NAIROBI, Kenya — The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nairobi has rejected allegations that its staff were involved in recruiting Kenyans to fight in the war in Ukraine.
In a statement released on Thursday, the mission described the claims as a “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign,” insisting that embassy officials had not issued visas to Kenyans travelling to Russia for the purpose of joining the country’s military.
The embassy, however, clarified that Russian law allows foreign nationals who are already legally present in Russia to voluntarily enlist in the country’s armed forces.
“It must be understood that the legislation of the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, if they stay in Russia on a legal basis and choose to take part in the battle against the NATO-backed Ukrainian Nazism shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen,” the statement read in part.
The mission added that it remains open to dialogue with Kenyan authorities to address concerns and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
According to the embassy, several draft agreements between Russia and Kenya, including frameworks on labour migration, travel facilitation and coordination between security agencies, have been under consideration for years.
Officials said finalising these protocols would provide clearer mechanisms for collaboration and oversight.
Political pressure and intelligence concerns
The statement came a day after National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah alleged the existence of a recruitment network involving rogue officials and human-trafficking syndicates facilitating the movement of Kenyans to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Addressing lawmakers in the National Assembly of Kenya on 18 February 2026, the Kikuyu MP called for accountability within Kenya’s foreign missions, particularly the country’s embassy in Moscow.
“Our Ambassador in Moscow must be able to identify the officers within the embassy that may have colluded with these criminals. Our embassy must be beyond reproach. It must be the place where Kenyans can seek refuge, not exploitation,” Ichung’wah stated while addressing the National Assembly on February 18, 2026.
The lawmaker claimed that more than 1,000 Kenyans have been trafficked to Russia under promises of lucrative salaries and potential foreign citizenship.
“The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to trigger the recruitment of foreign fighters by the Russian military through rogue recruitment agencies and individuals in Kenya,” Ichung’wah highlighted.
Also Read: Kenyan intelligence flags network recruiting youth for Russia-Ukraine war
Concerns over the recruitment of African nationals into foreign conflicts have intensified as the war, widely referred to as the Russia-Ukraine war, enters another year. Analysts warn that economic hardship, unemployment and misinformation have made young job seekers vulnerable to deceptive overseas recruitment schemes.
Kenyan security agencies have previously investigated suspected trafficking networks, with some returnees reporting being deployed to combat roles despite promises of civilian or technical work.
Diplomatic tensions could emerge if investigations establish any institutional complicity, although both governments have signalled willingness to cooperate on migration oversight and citizen protection.
Authorities say investigations into recruitment channels remain ongoing.
