At least 84 Kenyans recruited to fight alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine have been killed or remain missing, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has told Parliament.
Mudavadi, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, disclosed that the government has records of 354 Kenyans who have been involved in the conflict.
Speaking before a parliamentary committee on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Mudavadi’s revelations raised fresh concerns over the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military and the fate of citizens who travelled abroad under unclear circumstances.
The disclosure comes amid growing scrutiny of allegations that Kenyan officials colluded with recruitment agencies and Russian authorities to facilitate the enlistment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men into the Russian military.
The allegations were highlighted in the 2026 US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, which raised concerns about possible official involvement in the recruitment network.
The report has intensified pressure for investigations into the circumstances under which Kenyans were recruited, the role of intermediaries and whether some victims were deceived or exploited.
The figures presented by Mudavadi also underscore the human cost of the recruitment, with dozens of Kenyans reported dead or unaccounted for as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.
The latest revelations are likely to increase calls for the government to establish the whereabouts of missing Kenyans, facilitate the repatriation of those still alive and investigate individuals or agencies suspected of exploiting citizens seeking employment abroad.
The government is also expected to face questions over measures in place to protect Kenyans from deceptive overseas job offers and prevent further recruitment into foreign military operations.
The key concern now remains the fate of the missing Kenyans and whether investigations will establish accountability for the alleged recruitment network.
