The Ukrainian government now says it is open to having a conversation with President William Ruto's administration on the possibility of repatriating Evans Kibet, a Kenyan arrested by the Ukrainian army while fighting for Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to BBC News Africa, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration has, however, noted that it would continue to detain him as a prisoner of war per the Geneva Convention unless the decision is overturned by the court.
Per the publication, the Ukrainian government also revealed that there were other African citizens held in detention who were captured during the war.
The said individuals are from countries like Sierra Leone, Somalia, Kenya, Egypt, Togo, Cuba and Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, both the Kenyan and Russian governments are yet to provide formal information regarding the matter.
In Kenya, Kibet's family is calling on the government to intervene and help in the release and repatriation of their kin. Kibet's cousin, who spoke to the BBC, said they have been watching Evan's video over and over while in shock.
"I am so traumatised. I didn't sleep at night. I don't even know what to say," the cousin told BBC Africa during an interview on Friday, September 19.
While commenting on Kibet's arrest, the victim's younger brother described Evans as humble and a pillar of their family.
"As a family, we are shocked about the information that we received concerning our brother, whom we know and hope has never been involved in such scenarios," said the brother.
The 36-year-old was captured by Ukrainian soldiers in Ukraine for reportedly fighting for Russia. In a video released by the Ukrainian military earlier this week, Kibet claimed that he was duped.
Kibet, who happens to be a long-distance runner, revealed that he had travelled to Russia for a race, but upon the expiry of his two-week trip, his phone and passport were confiscated.
In the clip, Kibet claimed that he was coerced into signing documents that had been written in Russian, a language the victim alleged he did not understand.
He later realised that he had been enlisted in the Russian army. He was taken to training and after a week of basic exercise, he was thrown into the battlefield.
However, Evans said he escaped and spent two days wandering inside a forest located on the border of Ukraine and Russia before he surrendered to the Ukrainian soldiers.
"I ended up in Russia without knowing that I had been enlisted in the Russian army. I had never served before. I did not go to Russia for that,” Evans said.
Evans has since pleaded not to be sent to Russia for fear of being killed over possible betrayal. Calls for his release have since been lodged by his family.
