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Kenya and Russia are establishing a formal migration framework to protect Kenyan citizens from exploitation and irregular recruitment into military service, following reports of Kenyans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenyan government is moving to formalise a migration framework with Russia, a critical step aimed at safeguarding its citizens from irregular recruitment into foreign military forces. This development follows high-level bilateral talks held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Nairobi between Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei and Russian Ambassador to Kenya, Vsevolod Tkachenko.
The discussions underscored Kenya's commitment to protecting its nationals abroad, particularly amid growing concerns over human trafficking networks luring Kenyans to Russia under false pretences, only for them to allegedly end up in combat zones.
The move to formalise migration pathways comes after several reports of Kenyan citizens being irregularly conscripted into the Russian army to fight in Ukraine. Foreign Affairs PS Sing'Oei had, on October 1, 2025, disclosed that a third Kenyan irregularly conscripted into the Russian army was being repatriated. This highlights a disturbing trend where vulnerable Kenyans, often seeking economic opportunities, are exploited by unscrupulous recruitment rings.
In September 2025, authorities in Athi River dismantled a suspected trafficking syndicate that had allegedly trafficked over 20 Kenyans. These individuals reportedly paid deposits for visas, travel, and accommodation, only to discover they were being funnelled towards military service.
The proposed migration framework is designed to create structured, transparent, and legal pathways for labour mobility between Kenya and Russia. This aims to protect Kenyan citizens from predatory schemes that exploit economic vulnerabilities. The framework will mandate that all job contracts are provided in both English and Russian, ensure consular access for Kenyan embassy staff to any citizen in Russia, and establish clear mechanisms for labour dispute resolution.
Russia has assured Kenya of its policy of zero tolerance towards the involuntary recruitment of foreign nationals into its security forces. This assurance was a key outcome of the bilateral talks.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei has consistently emphasised the Kenyan government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of its nationals. He commended the Kenyan Mission in Moscow for its efforts in rescuing and repatriating affected citizens. The PS has urged Kenyans to exercise extreme caution when signing overseas employment contracts.
Reports from Ukraine indicate that at least four Kenyans have been captured while fighting for Russian forces. These individuals are considered victims of manipulation and transnational human trafficking rings.
Key Migration Data:
The irregular recruitment of Kenyans into foreign conflicts poses significant risks, including loss of life, exploitation, and human rights abuses. The formalisation of migration pathways seeks to mitigate these dangers by providing legal and transparent channels for those seeking opportunities abroad. The absence of such frameworks previously created loopholes exploited by traffickers.
While Russia has denied official involvement in the recruitment of foreign nationals into its armed forces, reports from Ukraine suggest otherwise. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched inquiries into the circumstances leading to irregular conscriptions, amid reports of human trafficking networks promising lucrative jobs in Russia.
The agreement to expedite the conclusion of the migration framework was reached on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The framework will cover Kenyan students and skilled professionals seeking work in Russia. The Kenyan government continues to caution its citizens against falling prey to deceptive recruitment schemes.
The implementation and effectiveness of the new migration framework will be crucial in determining its success. Stakeholders will be closely watching for a measurable reduction in illegal migration, guaranteed consular access for Kenyans in Russia, and the establishment of expanded scholarship programs for students. The government's ongoing efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks will also be a key area of focus.
