Russia-Ukraine war: 16 Kenyans are missing in action, Mudavadi confirms

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says at least 16 Kenyans are missing in action in Russia, 38 admitted in various Russian hospitals and about 165 actively deployed in special operations military operations.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on National Security Defence and Foreign Relations, he said the government is still piecing together the full scale of the crisis amid ongoing investigations into deceptive recruitment schemes luring Kenyans to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. 

In total, he told the committee that approximately 252 Kenyans are believed to have been enlisted into the Russian military through these schemes.

He revealed that as per latest government records, at least 16 Kenyans are currently classified as missing in action in Russia, while cautioning that their status remains unclear. He noted that it is not yet known whether they are dead, captured or otherwise unaccounted for.

Mudavadi further disclosed that 47 Kenyans have so far been rescued and repatriated with the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow facilitating their return home. 

Additionally, the government has confirmed that two Kenyans are currently being held in Ukraine as prisoners of war.

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