A Ukrainian serviceman fires a Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops near Kostiantynivka town, Ukraine on November 29, 2025.
At least 82 Kenyans are currently embroiled in Russian military operations in Ukraine with some of them dead, others injured, and many desperately trying to escape the war zone, Daily Nation can reveal.
Official correspondence between the Kenyan embassy in Moscow and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seen by Nation, provides the first detailed insight into the crisis facing Nairobi as its nationals are allegedly recruited to fight in a foreign war.
The Kenyans were reportedly lured by offers of legitimate employment abroad, only to be forcibly conscripted into the Russian army and sent to frontline combat in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
These cases may only represent a fraction of the total. In November 2025, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi disclosed that more than 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian military since the conflict began in 2022.
Most of those recruited had no prior military experience. After a brief, five-day crash course in remote Russian camps — sometimes handling firearms for the first time — they were dispatched to combat zones. Others, including former members of Kenya’s disciplined services, were particularly vulnerable to coercion or false promises by recruiters.
Unspecified sites
A briefing prepared by Ambassador Peter Mathuki and addressed to Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei on September, 26 2025 lists the names, contact numbers, entry dates, camp locations, and status of the Kenyan nationals involved. The report includes deployed personnel, those hospitalised, and those rescued or repatriated.
“It appears young Kenyans continue to be lured by unscrupulous agents to travel to Russia and unknowingly find themselves in Russian military operations,” Dr Mathuki wrote. “The State Department of Diaspora Affairs should undertake awareness campaigns to educate citizens seeking work abroad, ensuring they verify assignment destinations through the Ministry and Kenyan Missions.”
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine December 13, 2025.
According to the brief, Kenyans are stationed across several locations, including Belgorod, Istra (Wagner Military Base), Saint Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, and other unspecified sites.
At Belgorod’s Selo Novaya Tavolzhanka camp, some 700km from Moscow, 20 Kenyans have been based since August 2025. The facility serves as a training and operational preparation hub. Of the 20, 18 remain in the camp, one is hospitalised, and one has died.
Those in the camp include Gilbert Yanoh, Daniel Mundia, Paul Wanjiru, Nicholas Keino, Alexander Chepkurui, Dan Masanga, Steven Wamalwa, Job Makera, Seif Pamba, Mark Mwangi, George Kigia, Francis Ndarua, Anthony Kihika, Anthony Magoma, David Simiyu, Joseph Leshinka, Wesley Nyabuti, and Erastus. Benson Osomo is hospitalised. Tragically, Willy Muniu Macharia has died.
Istra, the Wagner military base about 80km from Moscow, hosts 29 Kenyans. Three were rescued by the Kenyan embassy between September 12 and 16, 2025. They are Shaquille Wambo, Pius Mwika, and Derrick Njaga.
Others remaining in the camp include Eddie Kimani Mungai, Daniel Mburu Muringi, Antony Maina Ruhii, Mathew Mwasi Makelele, Nixon Onwonga A Omwenga, Mugeka Nderitu Muriithi, George Rimba Mwagona, Billal Masila Rumaida, Victor Mbuga Kinuthia, and Christopher Mwangi Macharia.
Additional recruits at Istra include Kevin Kariuki Nduma, Victor Kabiru Njunge, Billy Graham Odhiambo, Wilson Okondo, Lamex Onsongo, Benedict Vundi Musee, Timothy Thuranira, Robert Ngeso Otieno, Nelson Ochieng, Dishon Kazee, Douglas Mwathi, James, Geoffrey Omimga, Titus Mwangi, Paul Chege, and Felix Rotich. These individuals are reportedly undergoing training and operational preparation.
Saint Petersburg, roughly 700km from Moscow, has hosted 26 Kenyans since July 2025. Four were repatriated to Kenya, and four are hospitalised in Moscow with serious injuries, including amputations and fractured hands. Those rescued include Vincent Odhiambo Awiti and Wilson Mwaoka Mwanyalo on September 11 and 5, respectively. Hospitalised individuals are Paul Mwaura Muthoni, Newton Maliro, Robert, Peterson, Paul Mutonye, and Erick Korinko.
Others deployed in Saint Petersburg include Richard Okiri, Okwaro, Dishon Kazee, Naish, Seif Salim Pamba, Maxwell Maina, Thomas Shelby, Josephat Theuri, Stanley Mungai, David Shitanda Kuloba, Wangari Rouben Ndugu, Ismael Tariq Ahmed, Kariuki Samuel Maina, Orima Jobick Otieno, and Martin Ochieng.
Service members of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during their first military drill as recruits, near a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, December 12, 2025.
Two Kenyans, Oscar Khagola Mutoka and Wesley Lugadiru, have been deployed in Rostov-on-Don, approximately 1,000km from Moscow, since June 2025. Six others are at unspecified locations: Evans Kiage, Collins Nyakundi, Boniface Mugo, John Mwangi Nduta, Ronald Nduta, and Ronald Obwaka.
The embassy expressed concern over recruitment methods and urged the State Department of Diaspora Affairs to educate citizens seeking employment abroad. The letter also called on immigration and security agencies to enhance border vigilance, particularly at airports, to prevent recruitment by fraudulent agents.
Despite repatriation efforts, many Kenyans remain deployed, some with severe injuries, while others face uncertain conditions in remote military camps.
Ukrainian serviceman from mobile air defence unit fires a machine gun towards a Russian drone in Kharkiv region.
Mark Kariuki, recently rescued from the Russian frontline, said young Kenyans were recruited under the guise of legitimate jobs. Agencies promised employment in meat processing, packaging, and cleaning, with full coverage of travel, medical checks, and accommodation.
“He (the agent) told us this was a government initiative, with support from both Kenyan and Russian authorities. We only had to pay Sh30,000 and everything seemed legitimate. He added us to a WhatsApp group and the process moved quickly. I received my visa within a week,” Kariuki told Nation. “Upon arrival, we were misled and coerced into military service. Some recruits were even amputated. It was unbelievable.”
Irregular recruitment
In September 2025, Kenyan detectives arrested a Russian national, present in Kenya since March 2017, for alleged involvement in forcibly recruiting Kenyans into the Russian military.
In a September 30, 2025 letter, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs expressed “deep concern” over the irregular recruitment, condemning it as a violation of international law and a direct threat to citizens’ safety. The ministry sought explanations from the Russian Embassy in Nairobi regarding its authorities’ knowledge or involvement.
“The Government of Kenya categorically denounces this practice, which endangers citizens and contravenes international law prohibiting human trafficking and recruitment of foreign nationals into armed conflict,” the letter stated.
Martin Macharia Mburu, from Ruaka, Kiambu, became the first officially confirmed Kenyan fatality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He died on October 30 , 2025 at the Donetsk-Lyman frontline, according to sources in Kyiv.
Some Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Mburu, recruited under the pretext of a driving job, was coerced into signing a military contract in Russian — a language he did not understand — before being deployed to combat.
Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi warned that recruitment networks remain active in both Kenya and Russia, leaving some nationals injured or stranded.
In another case, former athlete Evans Kibet was tricked into signing a military contract he could not read, believing he was taking a harmless job.
Across Africa, similar cases have been reported, with at least 1,436 citizens from 36 countries reportedly fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine.
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