Kenyan Caught in War Zone Claims Embassy Failed to Respond to His Emails

Kenyans caught up in the Russia–Ukraine conflict are appealing for assistance to return home, as reports emerge of individuals recruited into military service under misleading circumstances and left without support.

Several Kenyan nationals say they travelled to Russia for civilian jobs but were instead placed in military training and deployed to the frontlines. One man, identified as Robert, said he accepted what he believed was a cleaning job but was later sent into combat. 

He reported sending repeated emails to the Kenyan embassy in Moscow, requesting help to terminate his contract and leave the country, but received no response. In a message dated 17 March, he wrote that he was unable to travel to Moscow and urgently needed assistance to exit the conflict zone.

His account reflects a wider pattern of recruitment targeting Kenyans with promises of well-paid work, which later leads to military service. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi stated that those involved signed contracts directly with Russia’s Ministry of Defence, limiting the Kenyan government’s ability to intervene. 

He added that authorities are supporting citizens who wish to return and have facilitated some repatriations. Government figures show that about 252 Kenyans have been recruited since 2025. Of these, 44 have returned home, 10 have died, 38 are receiving treatment for injuries, and 160 remain deployed on the frontline.

Families of those who died have called on the government to assist in repatriating their remains for burial. Some individuals face difficult decisions after leaving combat roles. Samuel Maina, who was injured, declined to return to the battlefield and now risks detention for breaching his contract.