More than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight on Russia’s side in the war in Ukraine, according to a Kenyan intelligence report presented to lawmakers this week, about five times higher than earlier official estimates.
The Russian Embassy in Nairobi denied that Moscow was illegally recruiting Kenyans, but acknowledged that foreign nationals are allowed under Russian law to enlist in its armed forces voluntarily.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah described what the report said was a network of rogue state officials working with human-trafficking syndicates to recruit Kenyans for the conflict, Reuters reported.
Last November, Business Insider Africa reported that more than 1,400 African citizens from a dozen countries were believed to be fighting for Russia in Ukraine, underscoring the Kremlin’s growing reliance on foreign fighters.
Several African governments, including South Africa and Togo, have since opened investigations into recruitment networks and warned citizens against involvement in foreign wars. Nigeria has also issued an advisory cautioning its nationals about illegal enlistment related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Promises of pay lure recruits
Recruiters reportedly targeted former soldiers and police officers, as well as unemployed civilians, promising monthly pay of about 350,000 Kenyan shillings ($2,715) and bonuses of up to 1.2 million shillings ($9,309).
“So far, over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited and deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war,” Ichung’wah told lawmakers.
Kenya had said in November that more than 200 of its citizens were fighting for Russia in Ukraine. That same month, Ukrainian authorities estimated that roughly 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces, with some allegedly recruited through deception.
As of February 2026, the report said 89 Kenyans were on the frontline, 39 were hospitalised, and 28 were listed as missing in action.
Travel routes and alleged collusion
According to the report, recruits initially travelled on tourist visas to Russia via Turkey or the United Arab Emirates. After tighter surveillance at Nairobi’s airport, routes reportedly shifted through Uganda, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Investigators alleged that recruitment agencies worked with corrupt airport staff, immigration officers and other state officials, as well as personnel at both the Russian Embassy in Nairobi and the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow, to facilitate travel.
