Kenyan Returns Home After Months in Russia–Ukraine Conflict

Kelvin Lemashon Koriko arrived in Kenya on Thursday after spending several months in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, reuniting with his family at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The arrivals hall was marked by an emotional reunion as Koriko returned on a Turkish Airlines flight. His family, who had endured long periods without contact, welcomed him with tears, prayers and visible relief after fearing for his safety.

Reports suggest that more than a thousand citizens were recruited with promises of well-paid jobs abroad but were instead deployed to the frontlines of a foreign conflict. Families have reported cases of missing relatives and casualties, raising concern about the risks faced by those who travel under such arrangements. 

The issue has prompted action from policymakers. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, where both sides agreed to stop the enlistment of Kenyan nationals in the Russian military during the ongoing war. 

The agreement, reached on 16 March, aims to protect Kenyan citizens from further involvement. Lavrov said that the Russian state was not directly responsible for recruitment and that volunteers would not receive compensation.

Authorities in Nairobi have advised young people to be cautious when considering overseas job offers, especially those that promise unusually high earnings. Officials warn that such offers may conceal serious risks, including involvement in armed conflicts.