NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyans recruited into the Russian army and involved in fighting in Ukraine will not face any charges upon peaceful return home, according to the Kenyan government.
Foreign affairs cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed the government’s decision, stating that a visit to Moscow last week where he held talks with Russian authorities regarding the recruitment of Kenyans was the result of the latest development.
He made the announcement following reports about young Kenyans being lured into working in lucrative foreign jobs, then being convinced to sign employment contracts in Russian language they couldn’t comprehend and being immediately enlisted into foreign armies.
According to official estimates over the last six months alone, at least 252 Kenyan citizens have gone through the justice system on account of activities similar to this one. Those affected have often spoken about signing employment contracts for jobs in security or labor sectors, before finding themselves on the front lines in Ukraine.
In Kenya it is a crime to enlist in a foreign army without the permission of the state and offenders face prison sentence of up to 10 years. It is this specific penalty that has been waived, as part of the amnesty for “a peaceful return.”
Mudavadi noted that a coordinated process is underway to get these citizens back and warned that Kenya does not support its citizens engaging in external conflicts, noting similar incidents elsewhere in Africa.
