The government has revealed that another Kenyan has been rescued after being irregularly conscripted into the Russian army, bringing the total number of rescued Kenyans to four.
In a statement issued by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, the Kenyan is on his way back home after rescue efforts undertaken by the Kenyan Mission in Moscow.
“A fourth Kenyan, irregularly conscripted to serve in the Russian military, is on his way back home,” Sing’oei noted.
“I commend our Mission in Moscow for the effort to rescue and repatriate Kenyans caught in this unfortunate and dangerous situation,” he added.
While announcing the Kenyan’s release, Sing’oei urged Kenyans to exercise due diligence when dealing with employment agencies promising jobs abroad.
“We implore Kenyans to exercise all diligence in verifying the authenticity of any foreign employment contracts and to seek advice from the Ministry and particularly our Diaspora State department, should they have doubt,” he expressed.
The man’s rescue was part of ongoing efforts to repatriate four Kenyans who had been taken in as prisoners of war to fight for Russia.
Allegations of Trafficking Ring Sending Kenyans to Russia
The case of the four was linked to reports of Kenyans allegedly being trafficked under the guise of employment, only to later end up as frontline soldiers in the ongoing war.
On Thursday, September 25, a Russian man was taken into custody by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over allegations of working for the Russian government to recruit Kenyans to fight in the war.
His arrest came after the rescue of 22 Kenyans from an apartment in Athi River, where they were awaiting the individual to process their travel to Russia. According to the police, the individuals were allegedly promised job opportunities in Russia but were, in reality, being sent to fight in Ukraine.
More details disclosed that the individual was set to facilitate their travel to Russia in September and October this year.
Detectives said the rescued victims revealed they had signed contracts with an unnamed employment agency, committing to pay up to $18,000 (Ksh2,331,000), which would cater for their visas, travel, and accommodation.
The case of the Russian national followed that of Evans Kibet, who, in an interview, claimed that he had been duped into serving for the Russian army after initially visiting the country as a tourist.
In a video shared by the Kyiv Independent, Evans said that when he arrived in Russia, an unidentified man offered to host him. After about two weeks, the man offered him a job and brought him papers to sign, only to realise that he had signed up to join the Russian army.
"I did not know I was being signed up for the Russian army because I have never been in the military and I have never wanted a military job," he noted.
"This man, who received me in Russia, asked me, 'Evans, how do you see Russia?' I told him Russia is good. He asked me if I would love to stay in Russia. He said he can do something for me," Evans added.
