Relatives of Kenyan citizens battling in Russia demand their repatriation

Families of Kenyan nationals serving alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine are urging their government to intervene and bring their loved ones back, as Moscows recruitment of African citizens becomes a growing concern across the continent.

According to Kyiv, more than 1,400 Africans from at least 36 nations including Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa are currently fighting for Russia. Kenyan authorities estimate that around 200 of their citizens are among them.

The issue drew further attention in South Africa after Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, resigned as an MP following accusations that she deceived 17 men into joining Russia as mercenaries in Ukraine.

In Nairobi, Susan Kuloba told Semafor that her 22-year-old son, David Kuloba Shitanda, traveled to Russia in August after struggling to find work in Kenya. She said he remained in frequent contact until early last month.

Sometimes I cant sleep or eat. I stay awake all night wondering where he is, she said. I just want my son home. And if he is dead, then I want his body I need the government to help me find him and bring him back, alive or dead.

Kuloba said the Russian embassy refused to assist her, and she is still waiting for a response from Kenyas foreign affairs ministry after requesting information about her son. The ministry did not comment when contacted by Semafor.

Earlier this month, Kenyas Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi said that some Kenyans fighting for Russia previously served in Kenyas military. Recruitment networks remain active in both Kenya and Russia. Our embassy in Moscow has reported injuries among Kenyan nationals and others stranded in Russia, he said.

High unemployment and economic difficulties continue to drive many young Kenyans to pursue opportunities abroad. Youth aged 15 to 35 about 35% of the population face an unemployment rate of 67%, according to the Federation of Kenya Employers.

What began as scattered reports of Africans disappearing in Russia has now become a troubling trend. Moscow is turning to African recruits to fill manpower shortages in its war against Ukraine, often at minimal cost.

In Nairobis Kibera settlement, a 23-year-old man identified as David who requested anonymity for his familys safety recounted his month fighting for Russia in Shebekino, a town near the Ukrainian border.

I kept seeing death everywhere. There were constant bombings. When a missile struck our position in Shebekino, only two of us survived me and a Nigerian, he said, showing Semafor what he described as his Russian military ID, along with photos and videos.

David said he left Kenya due to a lack of job prospects. After being promised $18,000, a friend connected him to a local agent who arranged travel for him and five other young Kenyan men to St. Petersburg via Istanbul. He said he signed a contract agreeing to serve voluntarily for one year and was issued a bank account and military identification.

Training lasted three weeks, then we were separated and deployed to different front-line regions, he said. Thats when everything changed. I still cant sleep properly because of what I witnessed.

He eventually escaped after about a month and reached the Kenyan embassy in Moscow, which facilitated his return home in September.

Natariana Kilonzo, an international relations lecturer at the University of Nairobi, noted that the voluntary contracts signed by Africans complicate diplomatic responses. Russia can argue that these recruits enlisted of their own free will, and claim that rogue agents not the state are responsible, she said.

In November, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that South African men were being enticed into joining mercenary groups through job advertisements promoted by social media influencers, though he did not specify which side they were fighting for.

Daniel Van Dyke, a senior country risk analyst at Signal Risk, said neither Kenya nor South Africa benefits from such recruitment. Kenya seems to be taking some action, but here in South Africa, we havent seen meaningful efforts to pressure Russia to stop, he said. He added that South Africas close ties with Moscow may be causing hesitation, especially since many recruits appear to have been misled by local intermediaries.

Reports from The Economist also indicate that African women some under 18 are being recruited to help produce Russias suicide drones.

Author: Connor Blake