How a Ksh500,000 Job Promise Turned Into a Kenyan Man’s Fight for Survival in Russia

Vincent Odhiambo left Kenya hoping to secure a well-paying job in Russia, but the opportunity he believed would transform his life instead plunged him into a war zone where he watched fellow recruits die and suffered injuries that continue to affect him.

The Nairobi shopkeeper travelled abroad in July 2025 after being promised a monthly salary of up to Ksh519,000 to work in a shop. More than a year later, he is back in Kenya, recounting how the promised employment turned into a desperate struggle to escape military service and survive on the Ukrainian battlefield.

In an interview with journalist Yvonne Okwara on The Conscripts, Vincent said he had initially explored opportunities through international employment agencies. However, he and a friend became discouraged when they were asked to pay Ksh30,000 in registration fees.

Their circumstances changed when they encountered a man who allegedly offered them jobs in Russia without requiring registration payments.

According to Vincent, the recruiter claimed the Kenyan and Russian governments were cooperating to facilitate the workers’ travel, including paying for their visas and air tickets.

On July 13, 2025, Vincent and five other Kenyans boarded a flight to Russia, expecting to earn between 240,000 and 320,000 rubles monthly.

However, their arrival in Moscow marked the beginning of an experience far removed from what they had been promised. Vincent said their passports were confiscated and they were instructed to open bank accounts before being made to sign documents written in Russian.

He alleged that their requests to use the internet to translate the documents were rejected. The group was subsequently taken to a military camp, where they were informed that they would serve as soldiers.

Vincent said he objected and requested to return to Kenya but was told he would have to pay 3.4 million rubles, equivalent to approximately Ksh5.5 million, to leave.

His military training lasted about a week, largely focusing on handling and firing weapons. He was then moved towards the frontline near Vovchansk, close to the Russian-Ukrainian border.

What followed was a fight for survival. Vincent recalled crossing exposed agricultural fields alongside 27 other men as they moved towards the frontline. According to his account, drones and gunfire struck the group, killing those around him.

“That group that I was with, everybody died,” he said.

While fleeing the attacks, Vincent abandoned his weapon and other equipment to move faster. He said a drone pursued him, forcing him to seek cover behind a decomposing body. Although he survived, his right hand was badly injured.

He later found shelter near a forest, where he and another wounded survivor reportedly dug a trench and covered themselves with dead bodies to avoid detection by drones.

Vincent said his condition deteriorated as he struggled with the injury. He also recalled that only three Kenyans remained at one point, with one suffering the loss of a leg and another dying after stepping on a landmine.

Eventually, a Russian man helped him leave the frontline. Vincent said the journey back took 15 days, during which another person travelling ahead of them was struck by a drone.

He was eventually admitted to a hospital in Moscow, but his ordeal was not over.

While receiving treatment, Vincent checked his bank account and discovered that his pay and bonuses had been withdrawn. He recalled receiving notifications showing withdrawals of 800,000 rubles and another 700,000 rubles, leaving the account empty.

He also feared being sent back to the battlefield after being informed that he could return to the frontline in September 2025.

Without his passport, Vincent said he made repeated attempts to contact the Kenyan embassy in Moscow. After eventually reaching the embassy, he secured permission to leave the military hospital temporarily but decided not to return.

Vincent is now back in Kenya and continues to deal with the injuries sustained during the conflict. He still requires surgery to repair his damaged hand.

His account comes amid concerns over Kenyans travelling abroad after being promised lucrative employment. The National Intelligence Service estimates that more than 1,000 Kenyans have been drawn into the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the report.

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