US EditionKenya Charges Recruiter Who Allegedly Lured Citizens to Fight for Russia
More than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited under false promises of skilled jobs and forced to fight in Ukraine, with 89 confirmed at the front line, authorities said.
- Police in Moyale arrested Festus Arasa Omwamba late on Wednesday on suspicion of human trafficking tied to recruitment for Russia, marking a major development in stopping Kenyan fighters in Ukraine.
- Last week, Kenya's National Intelligence Service reported more than 1,000 Kenyans recruited to fight for Russia, with 89 on the front line, 39 hospitalised, and 28 missing in action, prompting families protesting in Nairobi.
- Recruits told investigators that Omwamba oversaw tourist visa applications and ticket purchases, met them at a Nairobi house, and on arrival some had passports seized and were sent to military camps in Russia with at least one confirmed dead.
- Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's Foreign Minister, said he will travel to Russia in March to secure Kenyans' return, while Michael Muchiri, police spokesperson, said Omwamba was detained for allegedly recruiting fighters; the Russian Embassy in Nairobi denied issuing visas for such travel Thursday.
- Moscow maintains that the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting, while Ukraine accused Russia of using deception to recruit more than 1,000 Africans and South Africa's presidency repatriated 11 nationals.
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48 Articles
In Kenya, a 33-year-old has been arrested, who is said to have recruited men under false pretexts for Russian military service. He is "a suspected key actor in a comprehensive network of trafficking in human beings," the investigators informed. Last week, Kenyan MP Kimani Ichungwah reported that more than a thousand men from the East African country had been recruited under compulsion to serve in the Russian army. Many of them had thought that t…
Kenyan Court Detains Recruitment Director Accused of Trafficking 25 to Fight for Russia in Ukraine
A Kenyan court has charged a company director with trafficking 25 people to Russia through deception, with prosecutors saying the group was intended for exploitation as fighters in Russia’s war in Ukraine. This was reported by Reuters on February 26. We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field. DONATE NOW Prosecutors said Festus Arasa Omwamba, described as the director of a recruitment company trafficking v…
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