The war in Ukraine feels thousands of miles away, until you visit Busia County. Here, the global conflict has a personal, painful face. Families are reporting a disturbing trend of young men vanishing after travelling to Russia, lured by promises of lucrative jobs that turn out to be military conscription.

The family of Oscar Agola Ojiambo is living a nightmare. A former KDF soldier, Agola left Kenya in May 2025, believing he had secured a private security job in St. Petersburg. His last call home was chilling. "He said he was being taken to the frontline," his sister Mary revealed. "Since then, his phone is off. We don't know if he is alive or dead."

The Recruitment Trap

Government intelligence indicates that over 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian military, enticed by unscrupulous agencies promising salaries of up to $3,000 (Sh390,000) a month. Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has admitted the situation is "deeply worrying," confirming that networks are actively recruiting Africans for "non-combat" roles that quickly morph into trench warfare.

The recruits, often desperate and unemployed, sign contracts in Russian—a language they don't understand. "They are told they will be driving trucks or building drones," said a security analyst. "Next thing they know, they are in Bakhmut with a rifle."

• Diplomatic Dilemma: Nairobi is walking a tightrope. While urging caution, the government cannot easily intervene in the sovereign affairs of Russia, especially when citizens travel voluntarily. The embassy in Moscow is overwhelmed with inquiries from terrified parents.
• The Human Cost: For the Agola family, the geopolitics don't matter. They just want their son back. Their plight is a grim reminder that in a globalized world, poverty can weaponize the youth of one nation to fight the wars of another.