A Kenyan ex- prison officer, Eric Obadiah, has been reportedly killed while fighting in the Russian-Ukraine war.
Eric Obadiah joined the Russian army in 2025 amidst the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, and on February 8, 2026, his family officially confirmed his death.
“The family has received the devastating news of their loved one that he has been killed in the ongoing Russia -Ukraine war,” a source announced his untimely death.
Kenyans have now expressed their concern over the safety of Kenyans who enlisted in the war countries.
Death of Eric Obadiah sparks reactions
Some Kenyans have criticized the decision by Eric Obadiah and other Kenyans who have enlisted in foreign wars.
“He left his home and family in Kenya to go murder Ukrainians people on another continent who did nothing to him for money so that he can feed his poor family,” Tony Maina Karari commented.
On the other hand, some question the reality and the logic behind the recruitment of young and inexperienced Kenyans to take part in the war.
“Guys, we were lied to about Russia being a military behemoth. But statistics don’t lie, if they were winning the war why recruit young, inexperienced, poor Africans to fight in their ranks? Don’t be cheated, I have read elsewhere, Ukrainians are warriors, already they have inflicted heavy casualties on the Russian side and continue to do so,” Ombiru Bw`Oseko stated.
Kenyan casualties in the Russia-Ukraine War
On Friday 6, February 2026, the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence reported that two Kenyans were found dead in Lyman City, in Donetsk.
“Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reports that the bodies of two more Kenyan citizens who were recruited by the aggressor state of Russia to wage a criminal war against our state have been found in the vicinity of the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region,” read the statement from Ukraine’s military intelligence unit.
Also Read: Two More Kenyans Die Fighting for Russia in Ukraine
The Kenyans were identified as Ombwori Denis Bagaka and Wahome Simon Gititu. Clinton Nyapara Mogesa’s body was also discovered on January 31, 2025.
The rise in the number of Kenyans’ deaths in the war countries has increased the concerns about the channels of job acquisition.
Kenyans have questioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour on the increasing cases of Kenyans being lured into the Russia-Ukraine war.
During the Nyota Capital Disbursement event on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua warned job seekers about unverified overseas job opportunities.
He asked all potential job seekers to verify the job opportunities through the official government labour migration channels.
Also Read: Family of Kenyan Killed in Russia-Ukraine War Conducts Burial Without a Body
Furthermore, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, the prime cabinet secretary stated that the government is seeking direct engagement to address the circumstances surrounding the recruitment of Kenyans in the war during an interview with a Western Kenya radio station.
Desperate jobless Kenyans are the main target of the recruitment for the Russia-Ukraine war.
The recruits are promised a salary of 280,000 per month, with a bonus of around Ksh 1.6 million paid after the training and paid before deployment.
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