Exposed! How Top Gov’t Officials Took Bribes to Send Youths to Russian Army

A massive recruitment network has been sending hundreds of Kenyans to fight for the Russian army in its conflict with Ukraine.

A Citizen TV investigation has exposed how a local middleman worked with high-ranking government officials to facilitate the export of fighters.

The operation involved staff from the Department of Defence (DoD), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Immigration Department, and the Ministry of Labour.

These officials allegedly took bribes to look the other way while young men were flown to the front lines.

A Web of Bribery

The man at the heart of the operation, given the name "Red" to protect his anonymity, claims he was approached by a Russian national named Mikhael Lyapin in December 2024.

Lyapin wanted trained personnel—specifically ex-military, former police, or paramilitary recruits from the National Youth Service (NYS)—to join the Russian army.

To make the deal work, Red reached out to contacts within Kenya’s security establishment.

He allegedly secured the endorsement of an army Brigadier at the DoD and a high-ranking officer at DCI headquarters.

"I approached a few friends in the department of defence and they told me it was something possible... one of the friends told me that’s a deal,” he said in  the expose.

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Corruption fueled every step of the process. According to the investigation, the bribe structure was systematic:

• Ministry of Labour officials: 5,000 shillings per recruit.
• DCI officers at the airport: 20,000 shillings per recruit.
• Immigration officers: 50,000 shillings per recruit.

The Lure of Big Money

The syndicate targeted the unemployed and those struggling financially. Recruits were promised a one-time bonus of 1.6 million shillings and a monthly salary of 280,000 shillings.

Before leaving, recruits were housed in private estates, including Great Wall Gardens in Mavoko. There, they were shown combat videos and taught basic Russian phrases.

Although many claimed to be ex-military, some faked their experience just to get the job.

"I know very well that war is dangerous... I even asked them what happens if you guys die? They were saying that’s our job. We either kill or get killed."

The Paper Trail

The investigation uncovered documents showing the Kenyan government was likely aware of these movements.

Over 100 e-visas were issued through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a process that usually requires domestic clearance.

The Human Cost

The reality of the war has been devastating for many families. Intelligence reports suggest that nearly 1,000 Kenyans are currently in Russia.

While the Russian government has denied that Mikhael Lyapin is an official employee of its embassy, the paper trail shows a highly organised pipeline.

As the government remains largely silent, more families continue to wait for news of their loved ones trapped in a war thousands of miles from home.