Some Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
An intelligence report presented to parliament indicates that a total of 1,000 Kenyans have so far been recruited to fight for Russia with details of the recruiters and institutions involved in the recruitment process being exposed.
The report, filed by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in response to enquiries from Members of Parliament, indicates that as of February this year, 89 Kenyans were actively fighting on the front line in the Russia–Ukraine war.
According to the report read by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, 39 Kenyans are currently hospitalised after being injured in the war; 28 are missing in action; 35 have been deployed to military camps in Russia; one is detained; and one has completed their contract.
Even more shockingly, the report indicates that Kenyans are only required to attend training for a few weeks before being sent to the front line to fight.
National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji.
Those undergoing explosives and weapons training are only required to attend training for nine days before being sent to the front line.
The report states that ex-military personnel, ex-police officers and desperate Kenyans aged 20–50 are the main targets of the recruiters.
They are enticed by a high salary of Sh350,000, with bonuses of Sh900,000, which, according to the report, hardly ever materialise.
Those recruited leave Kenya on tourist visas to join the Russian army via Istanbul in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, due to increased interception, especially at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the recruits have changed tactics and now travel via Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Africa to avoid detection.
Spy agency reports indicate that rogue recruitment agencies have been colluding with rogue airport staff, immigration officers, officers at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), anti-narcotics officers and National Employment Authority officers to facilitate recruits' passage through JKIA without interception.
The agencies have also been colluding with staff at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi and the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow, who have been issuing recruits with Russian visit visas.
Some citizens working in Qatar, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have also taken the lucrative deal and travelled to Russia.
Meanwhile, the identities of those behind the recruitment of Kenyans and the medical facilities used for medical tests have been revealed.
Global Face Human Resources Limited, a private recruitment agency located on Koinange Street and owned by Festus Arasa Omwamba, was registered on February 15, 2024. It has been named in the report as one of the agencies that have been actively recruiting skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan youths to work in other countries.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says Nairobi and Moscow are working closely on a Bilateral Labour Agreement that will ensure Kenyans have access to genuine job opportunities in Russia.
However, the agency is not currently registered with the National Employment Authority (NEA).
According to the report, Mr Omwamba has been identified as the Kenyan mastermind who organises accommodation, Russian bank accounts and coordination with Russian employers.
According to the report, the man has since filed for anticipatory bail at the Milimani High Court, with the case due to be heard on March 30, 2026.
“Majority of Kenyans have confirmed that they were recruited by the agency and were made to sign a contract, upon arrival in Moscow taken to training in three weeks and taken to the battlefront to fight in the war with Ukraine,” reads the spy agency report.
Another agency identified to be involved in the recruitment of Kenyans to Russia is Talent Shepherd agency, which, according to the report, is not registered by NEA.
Mr Edward Kamau Gituku and Joel Muchiri Ngugi, alias Caleb, have also been identified as the individuals who hold those already recruited at Great wall apartment-Athi River, which is acting as a holding base pending travel to Russia.
The bank accounts of the two have since been frozen.
The matter of Edward Gituku, which is active before Kahawa Law courts, is scheduled for mention this Thursday (February 19, 2026).
On September 24, 2025, the Transnational Crimes Unit in the DCI, acting on intelligence reports, raided the building where they found 22 victims aged between 24 and 30 years being held pending travel to Russia.
During the raid, the report indicates that the police got 39 unsigned employment contracts, 16 passports belonging to the victims, two mobile phones belonging to the suspects, a cook, two laptops, an HP printer and a motor vehicle believed to have been used to transport the victims.
Errustus Kitti Nyale (38). His family says he was recruited into the Russian military after being promised a driver’s job.
A court order has already been obtained to do an analysis of the mobile phones, laptops and bank statements of the suspects from Equity Bank and KCB.
The spy agency report indicates that17 victims confirmed making payments via Mpesa and bank transfers amounting to Sh975, 800 while three returnees confirmed making payments of Sh640, 000.
The spy agency confirmed that a Russian has also already been arrested and repatriated back to Russia on September 26, 2025, with reports indicating he is planning to sneak back to the country. An alert monitor has been placed on him so that he is detected anytime he jets back to the country.
Inspocare Health Limited, situated near Muthaiga Square along Thika Road and Universal Trends Medical and Diagnostic Centre, located near City Hall, are being used to conduct medical examinations for the potential recruits
The two medical centres have since obtained a court order restraining investigators from accessing victims’ medical records.
The spy agency has warned that the practice exposes Kenyans to various risks and is likely to cause diplomatic risk between the two countries
President William Ruto with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at State House Nairobi, at a past event.
“No military in the world trains for three weeks or nine, you are basically being given a gun to go and die,” Mr Ichung’wah said.
Mr Ichung’wah called on the Ministry of Interior and the State Department of immigration to be more vigilant and take action against government officers using their offices to facilitate the travel of Kenyans to fight for Russia.
“Government offices should not be used to facilitate criminals. Kenyans embassy should be a place where our people go to get help or rescue not a place for facilitating criminals,” Mr Ichung’wah said.
Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap called on the government to ensure that all Kenyans trapped in Russia are facilitated to come back home and given a job.
“I am shocked. This is a chilling matter that Kenyans can be transported all the way to Russia to fight in a war in Russia. It is now the duty of our government to ensure all Kenyans in Russia come back and work in the Galana Kulalu project
“I want to call out parents that if you have not seen your son for three weeks or he is telling you that he is going for Kazi majuu ask him which work exactly,” he added.
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