Samuel Mwaura Wainaina/HANDOUTSamuel Mwaura, 38, is among several Kenyans allegedly conscripted into the military amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.
His sister Winnie said Mwaura was offered what he described as a lucrative security job paying Sh250,000 per month.
A father of two, aged nine and four, Mwaura was well-travelled due to his work with an international organisation, having previously worked in Iraq, Somalia, and Djibouti. This experience, she says, may have given him confidence that the Russia trip posed little risk.
The family says they were unaware of the contract details until Mwaura left the country on September 5, 2025. He had been issued a visa indicating travel between September 5 and 11, raising concerns about how he secured employment using a visitor’s visa.
Winnie revealed that an individual identified as Julia is suspected to have facilitated Mwaura’s travel to Russia alongside his friend, John Kang'ethe.
Attempts to trace Mwaura through WhatsApp messages with Julia yielded conflicting claims: she alleged Mwaura failed to pay for services, had gone silent, and was being sought by a Russian court.
Before communication ceased in October, Mwaura regularly contacted his family, sending money and sharing work details, including his military number engraved on a metallic item.
In a voice note, he described his work as tough but remained optimistic, warning he would be offline for three weeks to a month. His last message, on October 21, 2025, stated he was in a forest and could not talk much.
The family is now living in hope while praying for his safety. Winnie said the ordeal has taken a toll on their mother’s health. They have filed a missing person's report with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs seeking for intervention.
John Kang'ethe, a friend of Mwaura's, is reported to be part of the same mission in Russia. His brother Paul Kabue said both men traveled to Russia the same day. Kabue escorted them to the airport, after which Kang'ethe confirmed they had arrived safely at their destination.
“Before going to Russia, he worked in Nakuru as a truck driver. I tried to convince him to look for alternative jobs in the country, but his mind was made up since he had secured the opportunity through his best friend, Mwaura,” Kabue said.
Travel documents show the 41-year-old was supposed to stay in Russia for 16 days. However, Kabue reveals that his brother and several others were taken for rigorous military training before being deployed to the war zone. Communication with the father of three ceased in October 2025, after his phone went off.
Attempts to reach the alleged agent, Julia, have so far been unsuccessful, as her phone remains unanswered.
Winnie and Kabue are now appealing to the government to assist in tracing their loved ones.
They describe the uncertainty as a constant source of mental anguish and distress.
Bringing Mwaura and Kang'ethe back to the country would be a huge relief and help ease the emotional burden that has consumed their families since their phones went off.
