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By Seyi Babalola
Over 1,000 Kenyans have gone to fight for Russia’s army in Ukraine, with the majority of them tricked into accepting military contracts, according to an intelligence assessment presented to Kenya’s parliament.
Several media investigations, including one published earlier this month by AFP, have revealed how Russia lured soldiers from African countries with promises of rich jobs, only to force them to fight on the front lines in Ukraine.
A joint investigation by Kenya’s National Intelligence Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations, presented in parliament on Tuesday, put the number of recruits from the country at “over 1,000” — far higher than the figure of “around 200” given by authorities in December.
“The Kenyans leave the country on tourist visas to join the Russian army through Istanbul, Turkey, as well as Abu Dhabi, UAE,” Kimani Ichung’wah, parliament majority leader, told lawmakers.
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But he said increased border enforcement at Nairobi’s airport meant recruits were also now travelling to other African countries to avoid detection.
Ichung’wah said unlicensed recruitment agencies in Kenya were “colluding with rogue airport staff”.
He said at least 39 Kenyans were currently hospitalised, 28 missing-in-action and 89 on the front line.
Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi is due to visit Moscow next month to discuss the issue, with the government condemning the use of its people “as cannon fodder”.
Uganda and South Africa are among the other African countries targeted for recruitment as Russia suffers significant losses in Ukraine.
