The government of Kenya has confirmed the rescue of another Kenyan who was illegally recruited to serve in the Russian military.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said on Wednesday that Kevin Kariuki Nduma is the third Kenyan to be freed from what he described as a dangerous and irregular conscription.
He commended Kenya’s Mission in Moscow, led by Ambassador Peter Mathuki, for intensifying rescue and repatriation efforts.
“A third Kenyan, Kevin Kariuki Nduma, irregularly conscripted to serve in the Russian military, is on his way back home. I commend our Mission in Moscow for the effort to rescue and repatriate Kenyans caught in this unfortunate and dangerous situation,” Sing’Oei said.
The PS urged Kenyans seeking jobs abroad to remain vigilant and to verify the authenticity of employment contracts before leaving the country.
“We implore Kenyans to exercise all diligence in verifying the authenticity of any foreign employment contracts and to seek advice from the Ministry, particularly our Diaspora State Department, should they have doubts,” he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has, over the past two weeks, handled multiple cases of Kenyans tricked into conscription into the Russian military.
On Saturday, Sing’Oei also confirmed the rescue and repatriation of three other Kenyans, Shaquille Wambo, Pius Mwika and Derick Njaga, who were successfully freed from illegal recruitment.
“I am pleased to inform of the rescue and repatriation of three Kenyans — Shaquille Wambo, Pius Mwika and Derick Njaga — by our Mission in Moscow. The three are safe and on their way home to their families,” Sing’Oei said in a statement.
“Our Mission and our teams at headquarters are doing what we can to address the situation of those captured as prisoners of war. I thank Ambassador Peter Mathuki and the team.”
Meanwhile, questions remain over how Kenyans are being recruited to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war. The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has denied any involvement of its nationals in the recruitment ring.
In a press release, the embassy said it had not received any official communication from Kenyan authorities regarding allegations against Mikhail Lyapin, whom the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) claimed was an employee of the Russian Embassy.
“Contrary to reports in a number of media outlets, Lyapin has never been an employee of Russian governmental bodies and does not work at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi,” the statement read.
The embassy acknowledged that Lyapin had been questioned by the DCI in Nairobi, but only about his business activities, and said he has since left the country.