Sixteen Kenyans missing in Russia after army recruitment

Sixteen Kenyans are missing in Russia after joining the country's army, Kenya's foreign affairs minister has said, while 47 others have returned home from the front lines in Ukraine.

Thirty-eight others are currently in different Russian hospitals under restricted access, Musalia Mudavadi told a Senate committee meeting.

He added that the number of missing Kenyans had risen from 10 to 16 within the last 24 hours. It remains unclear whether they are dead or alive.

The minister also estimated that 165 Kenyans are actively involved in military operations, bringing the total number who have participated in the conflict in Ukraine to more than 250.

Mudavadi said the total number could be higher. He added that two Kenyans are being held by Ukraine as prisoners of war.

He said the recruits had signed contracts to serve either as logistics officers or in combat roles.

"Contrary to prevailing reports, the majority of Kenyans enlisted… with full knowledge and willingly," Mudavadi told the committee of lawmakers.

He said that promises of "lucrative compensation" ranging from $11,500 (£8,700) to $23,000 upon joining, plus a monthly salary of up to $2,700, as well as the possibility of citizenship and a hefty gratuity upon contract completion were "a major motivation".

Some agencies based in Kenya, Russia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are behind the enlistment, according to the minister.

Kenya has opened an investigation into the illegal recruitment of its nationals to fight in the war in Ukraine.

Mudavadi told the BBC in February that the Kenyan authorities had closed more than 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs overseas.

That same month, families of Kenyans believed to be fighting in Ukraine staged a protest outside parliament in Nairobi, demanding government action and the return of their relatives.

Mudavadi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow in mid-March to put end to the enrolment of Kenyans into the Russian army. Following the talks, the two countries agreed to halt the recruitment.

"Citizens of Kenya, like citizens of other countries, have signed contracts with the Russian armed forces voluntarily," Lavrov said during the meeting.

Mudavadi told lawmakers that the ministry continues to monitor developments closely, working to ensure the safety of nationals and prevent further exploitative recruitment.

Ukrainian intelligence assessment has estimated that more than 1,700 people from 36 countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia.

Ukraine is also actively seeking recruits from around the world and on Wednesday its feed on X highlighted a drone operative by the name of "Cobra" said to be from Nigeria.