Russian Embassy Denies Arrest and Deportation of Citizen in Kenya Trafficking Probe

The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has denied reports that one of its citizens, Mikhail Lyapin, was arrested and deported in connection with an ongoing human trafficking investigation in Kenya.

In a statement released on Saturday, the embassy said Lyapin was only invited to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to provide a statement regarding his business operations in Kenya. According to the embassy, he left the country on 26 September voluntarily, and his departure had been planned in advance. It added that Lyapin was not charged with any offence and that his rights were fully respected throughout the process.

The embassy also clarified that Lyapin has never worked for the Russian government or held any position within its diplomatic mission in Kenya. The statement followed media reports linking him to a suspected recruitment network targeting Kenyan nationals for travel to Russia.

Kenyan authorities reportedly discovered 22 Kenyan citizens living in rented apartments in Nairobi, allegedly awaiting travel to Moscow. Police recovered documents including job offer letters, travel papers, and recruitment materials.

According to the BBC, investigators identified a Russian national as the organiser of the travel arrangements, with departures expected in the coming months.

While the embassy maintains that Lyapin’s departure was lawful, questions remain about his possible links to the network under investigation. Kenyan officials are continuing inquiries into whether foreign nationals were involved in coordinating the suspected trafficking scheme.

Meanwhile, a Kenyan suspect, Edward Kamau Gituku, was ordered to remain in custody by the Kahawa Law Courts on Friday. He is accused of leading the recruitment operation and is being held at Muthaiga Police Station for ten days while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) conducts further investigations.

Authorities allege that Gituku is part of a transnational trafficking syndicate that may expose victims to exploitative conditions abroad. The investigation is ongoing, with officials examining the scale of the Nairobi-based recruitment network and possible links to international actors.