Russian Ambassador to Kenya Vsevolod Tkachenko during a meeting with Kenya’s Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’Oei on October 7, 2025
Nairobi, Kenya — The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nairobi has denied claims that its staff are involved in recruiting Kenyans to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, describing the allegations as “dangerous and misleading propaganda.”
In a statement released on Thursday, the Embassy clarified that none of its personnel have issued visas to Kenyans for the sole purpose of joining the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
“It must be understood that the legislation of the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, if they stay in Russia on a legal basis and choose to take part in the battle against the NATO-backed Ukrainian Nazism shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen,” the statement read.
The mission further expressed readiness to engage with Kenyan authorities in dialogue to address legitimate concerns and strengthen bilateral cooperation. It noted that several draft agreements between Russia and Kenya—covering areas such as labour migration, travel arrangements, and coordination between law enforcement and security agencies—have been under consideration by Kenyan authorities for years. The Embassy said finalising these agreements would provide a clearer framework for collaboration on these matters.
Allegations by Kenyan Lawmaker
The statement comes a day after National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah revealed what he described as a disturbing network of rogue officials allegedly working with human trafficking syndicates to recruit Kenyans for the Russia-Ukraine war.
Addressing the National Assembly on February 18, 2026, Ichung’wah singled out the Russian Embassy in Moscow, demanding accountability and transparency. “Our Ambassador in Moscow must be able to identify the officers within the embassy that may have colluded with these criminals. Our embassy must be beyond reproach. It must be the place where Kenyans can seek refuge, not exploitation,” he said.
The lawmaker claimed that more than 1,000 Kenyans have already been trafficked to Russia under the promise of lucrative pay and foreign citizenship. He warned that the ongoing conflict continues to fuel the recruitment of foreign fighters through rogue agencies and individuals operating in Kenya.
Next Steps
Kenya’s government has yet to respond officially to the Russian Embassy’s statement. Authorities are expected to review existing protocols with foreign missions and consider tighter oversight to prevent human trafficking under the guise of military recruitment.
