Kenyan President William Ruto has announced that his country will pursue compensation for its citizens who were recruited into the Russian armed forces. This development follows a meeting between Ruto and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. According to Ruto, a Defence Attaché has been appointed in Moscow to work with Russia's Ministry of Defence on processing claims and arranging the safe return of affected Kenyans.
The recruitment issue came to light after an investigation by Journalists for Justice found that 76 Kenyans were killed while fighting for Russia and 841 Kenyans were recruited between October 2022 and June 2026. The report noted that Kenya had the highest number of identified African recruits. Many of the recruits were promised civilian security or logistics jobs before being asked to sign military contracts upon arrival in Russia.
The National Intelligence Service had previously told Parliament that over 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited for Russian forces, highlighting the scale of the issue. President Ruto's announcement indicates a significant shift in Kenya's approach to the matter. Russia has agreed to cease recruiting Kenyan nationals and classify Kenya as a non-source country for its military recruitment.
In addition to addressing the recruitment issue, Ruto and Putin discussed other areas of cooperation. These include expanding Russian scholarships for Kenyan students from 70 to 300 and negotiating a bilateral labour agreement to facilitate Kenyan work and residence in Russia. The leaders also touched on cooperation in transport, employment, and diplomatic training.
The two presidents also discussed Russian support for the United Nations Office in Nairobi. This is part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between Kenya and Russia. Ruto extended an invitation to Putin for a state visit to Kenya, which would be the Russian president's first official trip to the country and his first to Africa since 2018.
A response to Ruto's invitation has not yet been confirmed. However, the talks between the two leaders suggest a willingness to engage on multiple fronts. The agreement on compensation and repatriation is a significant step towards resolving the issue of Kenyan nationals recruited into the Russian military.
The Kenyan government has taken steps to address the issue, including the appointment of a Defence Attaché in Moscow. This move is expected to facilitate communication and coordination with the Russian Ministry of Defence. Key aspects of the agreement include compensation for the families of those killed and the safe return of affected Kenyans.
Key points
- Kenya will seek compensation for its citizens recruited into the Russian armed forces.
- Russia has agreed to cease recruiting Kenyan nationals and classify Kenya as a non-source country for its military recruitment.
- The two countries have agreed to expand Russian scholarships for Kenyan students and negotiate a bilateral labour agreement.
