Africa-Press – Kenya. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to securing the safety and repatriation of Kenyans caught on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei on Friday met with the ambassadors of Ukraine and Russia in Nairobi to discuss the welfare of Kenyan nationals and mechanisms for their safe return.
The talks underscored Nairobi’s determination to protect citizens abroad and to address the growing challenge of fraudulent recruitment into foreign conflicts.
During discussions with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kenya, Yurii Tokar, PS Sing’Oei highlighted the government’s serious concern for citizens held as prisoners of war.
“I underscored the government’s serious concern regarding Kenyans captured on the frontlines of the Russian-Ukrainian war and held as prisoners of war. We discussed the safety of these Kenyans and mechanisms for possible repatriation,” he said.
The PS said he also briefed the ambassador on what Kenya was doing to address fraudulent recruitment of nationals.
Sing’Oei also met Russian Ambassador Vsevolod Tkachenko separately with talks centred on the upcoming official visit by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to Moscow next month.
He also used the opportunity to convey the government’s grave concern for Kenyan nationals currently caught up in the conflict.
This, as he called for unimpeded consular access and clear, transparent protocols for repatriating both prisoners of war and the remains of deceased citizens.
“Kenya’s priority remains the safety and dignity of every Kenyan abroad. I welcomed the cooperation of the embassy in staving off any illegal recruitment of Kenyans,” Sing’Oei added.
The talks between the two come a day Russian embassy in Nairobi refuted claims that it has been involved in recruiting Kenyan citizens to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.
“At no point has the embassy issued visas to Kenyans to participate in military operations in Ukraine, nor has it encouraged any citizen to do so.”
The embassy emphasised that Russian law allows foreign citizens who are legally in Russia to voluntarily enlist in its armed forces.
The meetings come amid mounting reports that some Kenyans were misled into joining combat roles abroad under fraudulent recruitment schemes.
Security agencies have warned that networks are actively targeting unemployed youth, former military personnel, and other vulnerable groups with promises of high-paying jobs or security contracts, only for the recruits to be deployed to conflict zones.
The Russian embassy denied any collusion with individuals or entities to coerce or lure Kenyans into joining the conflict.
“The Government authorities of Russia have never engaged in illegal recruitment of Kenyan citizens,” the statement said.
Kenya has been engaging both Kyiv and Moscow to ensure affected nationals are protected, that consular support is provided, and that preventive measures are strengthened to curb further illegal recruitment.
Families of the affected have welcomed the Government’s interventions, emphasising the urgency of tracing and safely returning their loved ones.
The discussions with the Ukrainian ambassador also formed part of ongoing strategic cooperation between Kenya and Ukraine, established under agreements between President William Ruto and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Sing’Oei said the two sides reviewed progress on the bilateral agenda while emphasising Nairobi’s commitment to multilateral efforts prioritising global peace and the territorial integrity of all nations.
Kenya has consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, grounded in the principles of sovereignty and the United Nations Charter.
The country has also raised concerns about the illegal recruitment of citizens, noting that some individuals were misled by promises of lucrative employment abroad.
In November 2025, President Ruto and President Zelenskyy held a phone conversation in a bid to address the plight of Kenyans in the conflict.
The government’s ongoing diplomatic push aims to ensure families are kept informed, consular support is provided, and affected nationals are repatriated safely.
Sing’Oei emphasised that Kenya’s engagement extends beyond bilateral talks, incorporating multilateral diplomacy to secure global commitment to peace and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
He noted that these measures are crucial not only for the welfare of Kenyans abroad but also for safeguarding the country against networks that exploit citizens for foreign conflicts.
