Kenyans End Up in Russian Army After False Job Promises

The ordeal of families from Kenya is gaining international attention. As reported by foreign media, including the Spanish "El Mundo" and the Qatari "Al Jazeera", hundreds of young men from this African country have fallen victim to an international system of fraud and forced conscription into the Russian army. They leave hoping to earn money, receiving promises of work as truck drivers, security guards, or machine operators in Russia. Upon arrival, it turns out the contracts are invalid, and their passports are confiscated. The Russian army has been grappling with personnel problems since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier, after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia had already conducted informal recruitment of mercenaries, including through the Wagner Group, operating in Syria and African countries. The tradition of using foreigners in Russian armed forces has a long history, dating back to Tsarist times and the Soviet Union. Instead of civilian work, the men end up in training centers, where they are subjected to forced military training. They are then sent to the front in Ukraine, often with no combat experience. „"This is the Russian military, and once you are here, you either fight or die."” — Dancan Chege - this is the information, according to "Al Jazeera" reports, that one of the deceived Kenyans heard from his instructor. Bibiana Wangari, the mother of Charles Waithaki, confirms that her son was killed by a mine explosion on Ukrainian territory. His body could not be found or repatriated.około 1000 — Deceived Kenyans according to media sources The families of the victims, desperate for lack of information, are appealing to the Kenyan government for help and to exert diplomatic pressure on Russia. They demand explanations about the fate of their loved ones, the repatriation of the bodies of the fallen, and an end to this practice. The government in Nairobi is in a difficult position, trying to simultaneously maintain proper relations with Moscow, which is a significant trading partner, and respond to citizens' demands. So far, the Kremlin has not provided any official explanations regarding the recruitment of Kenyan citizens.Chronology of reports on Kenyan recruitment: 21 February 2026 — Article in El Mundo; 23 February 2026 — Reports by Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle This practice indicates a new, dark method for Russia to replenish personnel losses in the ongoing war. Instead of announcing further waves of internal mobilization, which is socially unpopular, Russian services are reaching out to foreigners from Global South countries, promising them a better life. The problem concerns not only Kenya but likely also other African and Asian countries with high youth unemployment. partially true: The information about a thousand deceived Kenyans is based on reports from foreign media, which cite their own sources. Neither the Kenyan nor the Russian government has officially confirmed this number. (Media reports) The case also highlights the difficult position of African states in global geopolitics, forced to balance relations with the West and cooperation with Russia and China.