U.S. report links Kenyan officials to recruitment of over 1,000 men to fight for Russia

A United States report has linked some Kenyan government officials to the recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyans to fight for the Russian military in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report by the U.S. Department of State raised concerns over alleged collusion between Kenyan officials, recruitment agencies, and Russian government officers in the recruitment.

“Officials reported that some Kenyan officials colluded with recruitment agencies and government officials from Russia to facilitate the fraudulent recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for the Russian military,” the report stated.

According to the report published on Thursday, October 8, some Kenyans were allegedly lured by promises of well-paying jobs in security or construction before being coerced into signing contracts with Russia’s Defence Ministry.

The report also raised concerns over less government action against recruitment agencies reportedly owned by public officials and allegedly involved in trafficking-related offences.

“The government did not report taking action against recruitment agencies reportedly owned by government employees that were allegedly complicit in facilitating trafficking crimes,” the report added.

It added that President William Ruto’s administration imposed lesser charges, including failure to register a recruitment company, instead of taking stronger action against agencies suspected of involvement in trafficking.

The report also noted that Kenyan media said more than 10 per cent of Kenyan government officials had ownership interests in private employment agencies, raising potential conflict-of-interest concerns.

Separately, the report said the government had investigated three Ministry of Labour officials over alleged bribes linked to human trafficking.

The findings also outlined reports of unscrupulous recruiters and Russian officials allegedly targeting foreign nationals, including Africans, with fraudulent opportunities linked to vocational training and employment.

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Some women aged between 18 and 22 from Africa, including Kenya, were reportedly recruited under the pretext of vocational training before being placed in Russian military drone production facilities.

Workers at the facilities were reportedly exposed to hazardous conditions, surveillance, violations involving working hours and wages, changes to employment contracts, and recruitment fees charged to workers.

The report described human trafficking as a continuing concern for Kenyans seeking jobs abroad, with fraudulent recruitment practices exposing job seekers to forced labour and other forms of exploitation.

The latest report comes hours after Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed that 84 Kenyans involved in the Russia-Ukraine war were either dead or remain missing.

Appearing before the Senate committee investigating the recruitment of Kenyans to Russia, the CS said that about 354 Kenyans had been directly involved in the ongoing conflict.

According to him, the ministry’s records show that 77 Kenyans are currently on the front lines, while 38 are in camps and 52 are listed under unknown location or unclassified.

He noted that another 34 had been hospitalised, 62 repatriated, five are prisoners of war, one is in detention, and one has completed their contract.

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