Muturi demands urgent probe into recruitment of Kenyans into Russia-Ukraine war

Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi.

The Democratic Party has called for an urgent and independent investigation into the recruitment and deployment of Kenyan citizens to fight for Russia in its war with Ukraine conflict.

DP party leader Justin Muturi said intelligence reports corroborate earlier fears that some Kenyans may have been misled, coerced or trafficked into the war zone.

A report by the National Intelligence Service that was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday showed at least 1000 Kenyans had been recruited to the war zone, and some killed on the frontline.

“As a constitutional democracy, the protection of our citizens is not optional,” Muturi said in a statement.

He transparency from the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Labour ministries, seeking clarity on the circumstances under which the Kenyans were recruited.

He also sought to know the existing safeguards that protect vulnerable job seekers from exploitation in foreign countries.

The former Attorney General called for an independent probe to determine whether local or international networks are involved in the unlawful recruitment and human trafficking.

He urged the government to provide immediate consular assistance and support to affected individuals’ and their families, saying the reports are agonising.

While appealing for calm amongst Kenyans as investigations proceed, Muturi insisted that any evidence of negligence, complicity or dereliction of duty by public officials must attract political responsibility.

“Kenya’s sovereignty and the dignity of our people must never be compromised,” he said.

Reports of Africans and specifically Kenyans being recruited by the Russian army to fight in the war have been widely publicised by the international media.

Since the outbreak of the war, both Russia and Ukraine have drawn foreign nationals into the conflict, either through formal volunteer units or informal recruitment networks.

Analysts have linked reports of Africans joining the war to high unemployment and overseas job recruitment drives that may disguise the true nature of the work, exposing job seekers to exploitation.

The United Nations’ Security Council has however warned that armed conflicts heighten the risk of human trafficking, particularly in countries where regulatory oversight of recruitment agencies is weak.

Kenyans fighting in the war have claimed they were hoodwinked with promises of good jobs only to be forced into the war once they got to Russia.

Evans Kibet, a Kenyan captured by the Ukrainian army while fighting for Russia, said he had gone to the country for work only to be forced into joining the war.

Duncan Chege who was lucky to escape and return to Kenya said he was trained for about a month and pushed to the battle front with the promise of Sh3 million.

He said he had travelled to the country in November to work as a driver in Moscow after he was selected alongside 10 others through a local recruitment agent.

Within a week of fighting, Chege said all 10 of his fellow Kenyans had been killed, prompting him to start plotting his escape by feigning mental instability.