The Kenya government has announced plans to grant amnesty to its citizens who enlisted to fight for Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine upon their return home.
The country’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, disclosed this following a recent diplomatic visit to Moscow, where discussions were held to address the growing involvement of Kenyans in the conflict.
According to him, both countries reached an understanding to halt further recruitment of Kenyan nationals into the war.
Under Kenyan law, it is illegal for citizens to enlist in foreign military forces without authorisation, with offenders liable to up to 10 years imprisonment.
However, the government said the decision to grant amnesty was informed by the circumstances surrounding the recruitment process.
Officials revealed that about 252 Kenyans were recruited over the past six months, many of whom allegedly travelled under the guise of securing civilian employment, only to be deployed to the battlefield.
Mudavadi disclosed that 44 affected individuals have so far been repatriated, while 11 have either been killed or declared missing in action.
He added that 38 others are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in Russia, with limited access, while approximately 160 remain actively engaged on the front lines.
The minister also confirmed that arrangements had been made to allow those unwilling to continue fighting to disengage and return to Kenya.
Moscow, he said, has agreed to place Kenya on a “stop list” to prevent further recruitment of its citizens.
The development comes amid growing concerns over illegal recruitment networks targeting Africans for foreign conflicts.
Kenyan authorities said efforts are underway to curb human trafficking and dismantle agencies involved in deceptive overseas job offers.
The move followed increasing pressure from families of affected individuals, many of whom had called on the government to intervene.
Authorities recently shut down hundreds of recruitment agencies suspected of misleading job seekers.
The war, which began in 2022, has reportedly drawn foreign fighters from several African countries, raising legal and humanitarian concerns across the continent.
