- Kenya says citizens found fighting in Ukraine were victims of manipulation and human trafficking.
- PS Korir Sing’Oei met Ukraine’s new ambassador to seek help for their repatriation.
- Most Kenyans were misled by fake job offers and ended up in war zones.
- The government has already rescued and returned several affected nationals.
- Kenya maintains dialogue and respect for sovereignty as the best way to end the conflict.
The Kenyan government has confirmed that citizens captured in the Russia-Ukraine war were not intentional fighters but victims of human trafficking and deception.
Principal Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr Korir Sing’Oei, made the statement on Monday, following a meeting in Nairobi with Ukraine’s new Ambassador to Kenya, Yurii Tokar.
Dr Sing’Oei said the government was in close contact with Ukrainian authorities to ensure those detained receive consular support and safe repatriation.
“Following reports of Kenyans captured on the frontline, I requested Ambassador Tokar’s support for them to access consular assistance and be repatriated home,” he said.
He explained that investigations revealed most of those caught in the war had been duped into travelling abroad through fraudulent job opportunities, only to find themselves in combat zones.
The PS emphasised that the affected Kenyans had been manipulated and trafficked, not recruited as soldiers.
“The government is working hard to protect our citizens from such exploitation,” he added.
His remarks followed the recent case of Kenyan athlete Evans Kibet, who was reportedly captured in Kharkiv Oblast after surrendering to Ukrainian forces.
Kibet told Ukrainian media that he had travelled to Russia as a tourist but was later tricked into joining the military.
“I went as a tourist and stayed for two weeks. When I had one day left, the man who hosted me asked if I wanted to stay. I agreed, but my visa had expired,” Kibet narrated.
Kenya’s embassy in Moscow has since rescued and flown home at least four Kenyans who were also allegedly forced into service by Russian recruiters.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has warned Kenyans to be cautious of traffickers using global conflicts to lure people with fake sports or job offers.
Dr Sing’Oei reiterated that Kenya still believes in dialogue and respect for national sovereignty as the only sustainable path to peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
During his meeting with Ambassador Tokar, the PS also sought Ukraine’s backing for Kenya’s bid to join the International Maritime Organisation Council, and for Professor Phoebe Okowa’s nomination to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
