22 Kenyans Tricked by Fake Jobs, Rescued Before Being Sent to Fight for Russia in Ukraine
Kenyan police have rescued 22 people from a suspected human trafficking network accused of luring job seekers with fake employment offers in Russia, only to send them to fight in Ukraine.
The victims were discovered during an intelligence-led raid on an apartment in Athi River, outside Nairobi, where officers seized travel documents, recruitment contracts, and job offer letters.
The operation, conducted on September 26, targeted a syndicate allegedly extorting thousands of dollars from desperate Kenyans.
One suspect, Edward Kamau Gituku, believed to have coordinated travel arrangements in September and October, was arrested and remanded for 10 days by Kahawa Law Courts while investigations continue.
According to police, the victims were found “awaiting processing to Russia.”
Investigators believe the trafficking ring used job offers in Moscow as a cover to recruit individuals for combat roles in Ukraine under the Russian military.
Contracts signed by the victims reportedly committed them to pay up to US$18,000 for visas, travel, and accommodation, with some having already paid deposits of US$1,500.
The case has intensified concerns over the rising number of Kenyans trafficked abroad under false pretenses.
A young Kenyan athlete, recently captured in Ukraine, claimed he was tricked into joining the Russian army.
“I’m Kenyan, don’t shoot,” he reportedly pleaded.
Many of those recruited return home injured, traumatised, or not at all.
Two Kenyans were recently repatriated, with one currently hospitalised in Nairobi.
A senior foreign ministry official confirmed that the government is investigating reports of nationals trafficked to Russia and now held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
According to the BBC, Ukraine’s spokesperson on prisoners of war, Petro Yatsenko, said citizens from Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka are also being held in Ukrainian camps.
“Most African states show little interest in the return of such citizens and do not wish to take them back,” he said.
Authorities say the trafficking ring remains under investigation, and more arrests are expected.
Officials have urged job seekers to be cautious of overseas offers that demand large upfront payments or lack clear employment terms.
