Kenya has said its citizens will no longer be recruited to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine after discussions between officials from the two countries.
Kenyan Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi made the announcement after meeting Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. He said both sides had agreed that Kenyans should not be enlisted to serve in Russia’s military for the conflict in Ukraine.
The issue had raised concern in Kenya after reports that some citizens had traveled to Russia for job opportunities but later ended up joining the military. Some were believed to have signed contracts that led to their involvement in the war.
Kenya’s government said it had raised the matter with Russian authorities to make sure such recruitment would stop. Officials also noted that the government would continue to look into the situation of Kenyans who may already be in Russia.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which started in 2022, has drawn people from several countries, with reports at times emerging of foreign nationals joining the fighting on different sides.
Kenya says the latest agreement is meant to prevent any further recruitment of its citizens into the conflict.
