A diplomatic row is erupting between Kenya and Russia as Nairobi confronts Moscow over the "clandestine" recruitment of Kenyans to fight in the Ukraine war.

Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi has broken the diplomatic silence, branding the recruitment of Kenyan nationals as "unacceptable." In a candid interview with the BBC, Mudavadi revealed that the government estimates around 200 Kenyans have been lured into the conflict, often with false promises of lucrative jobs, only to end up in the trenches of the Donbas.

The 'Shadow Army'

The recruitment operates in the shadows. Mudavadi confirmed that Nairobi has shut down over 600 rogue agencies suspected of trafficking these men. "This is a very unfortunate episode of otherwise very positive relations," he noted, signaling a rare fracture in the Kenya-Russia alliance.

The human cost is becoming impossible to hide. Families in Kenya are reporting lost contact with sons and husbands. Some have received calls from the front lines; others have received silence. The government has managed to repatriate 27 individuals, who are now undergoing "de-radicalization" and trauma counseling.

• The Numbers: ~200 Kenyans estimated in Russia; 27 repatriated.
• The Response: Kenya seeks a bilateral deal to explicitly ban military conscription of its citizens.

A Geopolitical Tightrope

This confrontation comes at a delicate time. Russia has been aggressively courting African nations to counter Western influence. By drawing a red line here, Kenya is asserting its sovereignty. The message is clear: We may be partners, but our citizens are not your disposable infantry.

"We havent been able to bury our loved ones because their bodies are on the other end," one family told officials. It is a haunting reality that no diplomatic handshake can erase.