Kenya has begun efforts to secure compensation for its citizens recruited into Russia’s military, following discussions between President William Ruto and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Ruto said his government had appointed a Defence Attaché to Moscow to liaise directly with Russia’s Ministry of Defence on compensation claims and the safe return of affected Kenyans.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the recruitment of Kenyan nationals to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with several reportedly killed and others still missing.
An investigation by Journalists for Justice identified at least 76 Kenyans killed while fighting for Russia. It also found that 841 Kenyans were recruited between October 2022 and June 2026.
The investigation documented more than 3,000 recruits from 40 African countries, with 502 confirmed deaths by June this year. Separately, Kenya’s National Intelligence Service told Parliament that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited.
Reports indicate that some of those recruited were initially promised civilian employment in security and logistics before being made to sign military contracts after arriving in Russia.
According to Ruto, the newly appointed Defence Attaché will work with Russian authorities to establish the process for handling compensation claims and assist affected citizens and their families.
However, details of the proposed compensation, including the amount, eligibility requirements and payment schedule, have not been disclosed.
During the Kremlin meeting, Ruto also announced that Russia had agreed to stop recruiting Kenyans into its armed forces. Kenya has consequently been designated a non-source country for military recruitment.
The agreement is expected to prevent further recruitment of Kenyans while both countries address the situation of those already affected, including efforts to facilitate their safe return.
Beyond the recruitment issue, Ruto and Putin discussed broader bilateral cooperation, including an increase in Russian scholarships for Kenyan students from 70 to 300.
They also considered negotiating a bilateral labour agreement and expanding cooperation in transport, employment and diplomatic training.
Ruto further invited Putin to visit Kenya. If the invitation is accepted, it would mark the Russian leader’s first official visit to the East African country and his first trip to Africa since 2018. It was not immediately clear whether Putin had accepted the invitation.
