Hundreds of Kenyan families are living in anguish after reports emerged that their sons were recruited and flown to fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, with dozens now reported dead, missing, hospitalised, or stranded on the battlefield.
Months after the story first came to light, the Kenyan government has yet to offer a comprehensive explanation.
Apart from the arrest and arraignment of one suspect at Kahawa Law Courts, official communication has remained limited to brief and carefully worded statements.
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Now, fresh revelations have exposed what appears to be a well-coordinated recruitment syndicate allegedly involving individuals within key government institutions.
Inside the Recruitment Network
An investigation by Citizen TV first aired on October 11, 2025, revealing that young Kenyan men were being recruited and flown to Russia — not for jobs or education, but to serve as soldiers in the war against Ukraine.
What began as a shocking exposé has since developed into a complex web of alleged corruption involving officials from the Department of Defence, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Immigration, and the Ministry of Labour.
At the centre of the operation is a man identified only as “Reds,” described as a key broker in the recruitment network. For security reasons, his identity remains concealed.
In exclusive conversations, Reds claims that senior individuals within government structures were aware of — and possibly facilitated — the export of Kenyan fighters to Russia.
The Phone Call That Opened the Door
According to Reds, the operation began in December 2024 with a phone call from a Russian national identified as Mikhail Lyapin, who allegedly operated in Kenya alongside another Russian national known as Diamitry, said to have links to Kenya’s embassy.
Their proposal was direct: recruit young Kenyan men, particularly those with prior military or police training, facilitate their travel, and deploy them into the Russian army.
“The opportunity was that they needed to recruit former military personnel who can join the Russian army,” Reds stated. “The specification was strictly someone from the forces or police, or those with basic military training like NYS.”
In April 2025, a meeting reportedly held at an entertainment joint along Mombasa Road allegedly sealed the deal with a senior military officer.
“He told me, ‘That’s a deal, hiyo ni biashara,’ so I linked them with the Russian guy,” Reds claimed.
The network allegedly expanded to include officers at DCI headquarters and contacts within the Ministry of Labour, including individuals linked to recruitment agencies.
The chairman of the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK), identified as Francis Wahome, was reportedly drawn into discussions, though the extent of his involvement remains unclear.
The Bribery Structure
According to the investigation, a structured bribery scheme was allegedly established per recruit transported.
- Labour officials allegedly received Ksh.5,000 per person
- DCI officers at airports allegedly received Ksh.20,000
- Immigration officers allegedly received Ksh.50,000
Recruitment began in earnest around January 2025, with young men aged between 21 and 47 targeted.
The offer appeared lucrative:
- Ksh.1.6 million signing bonus
- Ksh.280,000 monthly salary
- Ksh.650,000 agency fee covering travel and accommodation
“All the documentation, the visas, the air tickets, the invitation and everything were fully arranged,” Reds stated.
Investigators reportedly obtained more than 100 electronic visas issued by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, suggesting the process had official approval from Moscow.
Training and Deployment
Before departure, recruits were allegedly housed in locations including Great Wall Gardens in Mavoko, Kiserian, and Roysambu. There, they underwent basic orientation, including viewing combat footage and learning basic Russian phrases.
While some recruits were former security officers — including individuals from Recce Squad, KDF, and NYS — others reportedly had no military experience but were instructed to present themselves as trained.
Among the names emerging from the investigation is Ronald Regan Owuor, a former special forces officer who travelled to Russia in April 2025 and was later absorbed into the Russian army, where he sustained injuries.
Other recruits, including Ombwori Denis Bagaka and Magero Jeremiah Oriyo, reportedly travelled to Russia but have not been seen since being assigned to military units.
Rescue Operations and Arrests
Police raids disrupted some operations, rescuing more than 50 Kenyans. A key suspect, Edward Gituku, was arrested and charged with trafficking in persons.
However, intelligence reports tabled in Parliament paint a troubling picture. As of February 2026:
- 39 Kenyans are hospitalised
- 30 have been repatriated
- 28 are missing in action
- 35 are in camps
- 89 are reportedly on the frontline
“On the surface, it looked like an opportunity to escape unemployment,” the report noted, “but beneath lay a machinery of corruption fueled by bribes.”
Expanding Beyond Russia?
Reds further alleges that separate channels are recruiting Kenyans to join Ukrainian forces, though through different travel procedures due to visa restrictions.
The Russian government has denied that Mikhail Lyapin is affiliated with official institutions or its embassy in Nairobi.
Growing Questions
The scandal exposes more than alleged corruption — it raises urgent questions about accountability within institutions tasked with protecting citizens.
With Musalia Mudavadi expected to visit Russia in the coming weeks, attention is now turning to whether diplomatic engagement will shed light on the fate of Kenyans caught in the conflict.
For families waiting anxiously at home, the questions remain painfully simple: Who authorised this pipeline to war? Who profited? And when will those responsible be held accountable?