Kenyan President William Ruto and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reached an agreement to stop the recruitment of Kenyan citizens into the Russian military. The talks, which took place at the Kremlin in Moscow, resulted in Kenya being designated a non-source country for recruitment into the Russian military. This move effectively shuts down channels through which Kenyans have been enlisted to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. The agreement comes amid concerns over the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military, with several citizens reportedly joining the conflict.
President Ruto announced that he has appointed a Defence Attache at the Kenya Embassy in Moscow to liaise with the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Defence Attache will work on processing the return of Kenyans who were in Russia for military purposes. Additionally, the Attache will assist in processing compensation for Kenyans and facilitate their safe return home. This move is expected to provide support to Kenyan citizens who were recruited into the Russian military.
During the talks, President Ruto presented Kenya's Ksh.5 trillion economic transformation agenda to President Putin. He urged Moscow to increase investments in Kenya's priority development sectors. The two leaders also discussed scholarships for Kenyan students in various fields, including health, artificial intelligence, technology, aviation, and cyber security. The number of scholarships is set to increase from 70 to 300.
President Ruto and President Putin also agreed to negotiate a bilateral labour agreement that would allow Kenyans to live and work in Russia. This agreement aims to promote economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Furthermore, President Ruto invited President Putin to visit Kenya, strengthening the ties between the two nations.
The two countries have agreed to establish a joint commission to strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordinate the implementation of agreements between the governments. The commission will be co-chaired by representatives of both countries, with Russia represented by a federal minister or deputy minister. Kenya's delegation will be led by Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The agreement to stop the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military is a significant development in the relations between Kenya and Russia. The move is expected to provide relief to Kenyan citizens who were recruited into the Russian military and to prevent further recruitment. The talks between President Ruto and President Putin have also opened up new opportunities for economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The joint commission established by Kenya and Russia will play a crucial role in implementing the agreements reached during the talks. The commission will work to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, and defence. The increased scholarships for Kenyan students and the bilateral labour agreement are expected to promote people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Key points
- Kenya and Russia have agreed to end the recruitment of Kenyan citizens into the Russian armed forces.
- President Ruto has appointed a Defence Attache at the Kenya Embassy in Moscow to assist in the return of Kenyans who were recruited into the Russian military.
- The two countries have agreed to establish a joint commission to strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordinate the implementation of agreements between the governments.
