Russia to compensate Kenyans recruited into its army
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kenyans.co.ke
Kenyan President William Ruto says Russia will compensate Kenyans recruited into its armed forces and facilitate their return. A Kenyan military attaché in Moscow is to handle claims with the Russian Defence Ministry, while the recruitment of Kenyans is to stop, according to the Kenyan presidency.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced that Kenya would work with Russia to process compensation claims from its nationals recruited into the Russian army and facilitate their return. A Kenyan defence attaché appointed to Moscow will coordinate these efforts with the Russian Defence Ministry, Ruto said on Friday 30 October after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Kenyans.co.ke.
Putin also confirmed that Russia would no longer recruit Kenyans into its armed forces, after Kenya was classified among the countries not targeted for military recruitment. An investigation published by Journalists for Justice identified at least 76 Kenyans killed while fighting for Russia and 841 recruited between October 2022 and June 2026. Kenya’s National Intelligence Service had previously told Parliament that more than 1,000 nationals had been recruited. Some were reportedly lured by promises of civilian jobs in security or logistics before signing military contracts in Russia.
The announcement came on the same day as confirmation that the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian army had stopped, following talks between William Ruto and Vladimir Putin.
