Another Kenyan Silently Joins Russian Army As Family Calls On Gov’t To Intervene
The family of a Kenyan citizen recruited in the Russian army has raised an alarm after their kin went silent.
According to the family, they have lost contact with Humphrey Kimani, asking the government to help trace him and bring him back home.
According to the family, reaching Kimani, especially on the phone, has been a challenge recently, raising fears that he might have died in the war as other Kenyans in Russia.
“My brother joined the russian army, and getting him on the phone has become a challenge. His name is Humphrey Kimani,” a family member stated.
The fears about his whereabouts and why he has suddenly become silent come after over 18 Kenya citizens recruited in the russian army have been confirmed to have lost their lives in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Apart from the loss of lives witnessed, over 28 Kenyans have also gone missing, and 39 have been hospitalised, while over 80 remain on the frontline of the war.
According to reports by the National Intelligence Service submitted to parliament in February, over 1000 Kenyan citizens were unlawfully recruited in the russian army, with a heavy monthly salary promise of up to Ksh 350,000 with bonuses exceeding Ksh 1.2 million.
But being unable to repatriate the bodies of those killed in the war has forced families to desperately seek help from the government.
Due to a lack of help, a family in Kisii was forced to hold a funeral service for their kin, being forced to bury an empty coffin after being unable to bring back their kin’s body home for proper burial.
At the same time, the government has intensified repatriation efforts to bring back Kenyans trapped in the middle of the conflict.
This is after Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singoei held a series of meetings with Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors to Kenya.
In the meetings, the PS raised concerns about Kenyan nationals affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and explored mechanisms for their possible repatriation.
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Similarly, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is expected to travel to Russia this month, where he is expected to negotiate structured deals with russian authorities to end unlawful military recruitment.
Despite the efforts to bring back those trapped abroad, authorities have also intensified measures to prevent further recruitment.
Recently, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a suspect over alleged involvement in recruiting Kenyans into the Russian military.
“The suspect is believed to be a key player in a more extensive human trafficking syndicate that exploits vulnerable individuals by promising them legitimate employment opportunities in European countries,” DCI stated in a statement after his arrest.
Another Kenyan Silently Joins Russian Army As Family Calls On Gov’t To Intervene
