NAIROBI: THE challenging living conditions and hard economic situation in Kenya have led to a situation where many young people, ranging between 25 and 50 years old, are reported in the Kenyan parliament to be using various means to escape economic hardship and join the Russian army and enter the front lines of the battlefield for payment of around 3,500 US dollars per month.
The number of Kenyans who have enlisted in this army, their current numbers, and even those who may have died or gone missing, as well as the routes they take and the nations whose airports they use to enter Russia, were recently made public by a renowned member of parliament.
Even though this is a disgrace, Kenyans would not want their country to be known for failing to have sound plans to improve the lives of its citizens, to the point of forcing them into dangerous journeys or risking their lives.
This is especially true given that Kenya once claimed to have the best-performing economy in the EAC.
At a time when many nations are trying to find a way to stop the fighting, Kenya’s decision to set up checkpoints at its airport to question people, especially young people has led many Kenyans to use the Namanga border and leave through KIA via Oman or the UAE to enter Russia.
This is a great shame for a country that once had a strong economy and a booming private sector.
In addition to revealing that over 1,000 Kenyans were enlisted and flown to Russia under false pretences before being sent to the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine, an intelligence report submitted to the Kenyan Parliament in February 2026 also showed how many young people were seduced by promises of respectable employment only to end up on battlefields thousands of kilometres away.
According to a National Intelligence Service report presented to the Kenyan Parliament, at least 1,000 Kenyans have been enlisted in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, who were allegedly tricked by promises of high paying positions overseas and tricked into thinking they had landed lucrative security and logistics positions, according to the report that National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah presented.
Listening to the careful views expressed after the discussion, I learned that several young Kenyans have fled the country via Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Istanbul, Turkey, because of an increase in suspicious interceptions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Some Kenyans are leaving the country on transit visas to enlist in the Russian army.
When one hears that nearly 1,000 people are thought to have left Kenya and that some of them are already in the diaspora category and are relocating to Russia to fight, and hears that some are sent to training camps before being sent to the front lines of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it makes one wonder what has happened to the Kenyan government.
More disturbing is hearing news such as thirty have been deported, twenty-eight are missing, thirty-nine are hospitalised, thirty-five are deployed in camps, ninety-nine are on the front lines, one is detained, and one has fulfilled the contract, which shows how economic hardship in Kenya could, in a way, force ex-military and expolice personnel and young people desperate for job opportunities abroad to join the wagon simply because, when they look at their economy, they don’t see any signs of an environment that would make their lives better.
Examining the entire situation reveals that the government has advised job seekers to confirm employment offers abroad through the Ministry of Labour and relevant diplomatic missions, cautioning that engaging in illegal recruitment practices could put them in serious danger.
However, it is important to remember that the economic hardship is what is driving them to pursue such options.
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As Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap appealed for immediate action to prevent other young Kenyans from being exposed to imperil the lives of more Kenyans, I too feel the agony.
Even if it may seem routine when viewed through the lens of God’s dread, the way Kenyans are being transported to Moscow to engage in combat with Ukraine, another sovereign nation, makes one reconsider and possibly conclude that Kenya has let its citizens down by failing to manage its economy effectively.
This scenario is frightening, and it seems that Kenyans are so exposed that they can’t handle it.
Speaking to an average Kenyan at Uhuru Park last week, it was said that the startling disclosures have sparked popular indignation, grief among the relatives of those implicated, and concerns about Kenya’s reputation outside.
The government’s response is, in my opinion, measured and cautious, which raises questions both domestically and internationally about why state leaders are hesitant to speak more forcefully about the crisis, even though the government may not want to embarrass itself and, particularly at the time, all eyes are on the 2027 national general election.
Those who might be more interested in how this matter has been evolving should look for an intel report published by the magazine The Moscow Times (see the moscowtimes), an independent news source from Russia, clearly showing that about 1K Kenyans have entered the Russian army.
Having lived and worked in Kenya, I believe what is unfolding before the world is a human tragedy and a disgrace.
Young Kenyans, many of whom have no military experience, are being duped and trafficked into a foreign conflict, putting them in grave danger.
This stands in sharp contrast to Kenya’s reputation as a peaceful country dedicated to peacekeeping and diplomacy.
Having sent troops to missions in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other hotspots, Kenya is home to some of Africa’s most reputable peacekeeping forces and UN agencies.
That narrative is called into question by the possibility that its citizens are now unintentionally fighting as foreign combatants.
Deeper structural problems are also evident in this episode. Exploitation has become more common due to high youth unemployment and limited economic opportunities.
Kenyan society’s deeper grievances and vulnerabilities are reflected in this tragedy of sending young Kenyans to fight in a far-off war. Addressing these underlying issues is just as important as managing the diplomatic and reputational consequences.
In conclusion, the crisis involving Kenyan youngsters being sucked into the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is more than just a matter of foreign policy or domestic security.
The government of Kenya, its diplomatic stance, and its dedication to safeguarding its residents overseas are all being put to the test.
The Ruto administration’s hesitancy to discuss the matter openly may reflect realpolitik and the intricacies of foreign relations, but it also highlights persistent governance issues that call for transparent leadership and aggressive involvement.
Towards the 2027 general election, Kenya’s ability to balance diplomacy, accountability and justice may determine its future reputation on the international stage and its credibility with its own youth and their families.