Omanghana
Kenya is seeking compensation for citizens recruited into the Russian military following talks between President William Ruto and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Ruto announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, that Kenya had appointed a defence attaché at its embassy in Moscow to work with Russia’s Ministry of Defence on compensation claims and the safe return of affected Kenyans.
The leaders met at the Kremlin following the Russia-Africa Summit. Details of the proposed compensation, including eligibility, amounts and payment timelines, have not been publicly announced.
Recruitment assurance
Ruto said Putin had confirmed that Kenyans would no longer be enlisted into the Russian military because Kenya had been designated a “non-source country” for recruitment.
Kenya had previously announced a similar commitment in March 2026, following talks between Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
The latest announcement comes amid concern over Kenyans drawn into Russia’s war against Ukraine, including those reported killed, missing or still serving.
Scale of the recruitment
An investigation by Journalists for Justice documented 841 Kenyans among African nationals recruited into Russia’s armed forces and identified at least 76 Kenyan deaths. The investigation examined recruitment across Africa between October 2022 and June 2026.
Kenya’s National Intelligence Service separately told Parliament that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited.
Some recruits were reportedly promised civilian jobs, including work in security and logistics, before being asked to sign military contracts after arriving in Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov previously said Kenyan citizens had signed military contracts voluntarily.
Scholarships and labour agreement
Ruto said he and Putin also discussed increasing the number of Russian scholarships available to Kenyan students from 70 to 300. The proposed fields include health, artificial intelligence, technology, aviation and cybersecurity.
The two governments also agreed to negotiate a bilateral labour agreement that would provide a framework for Kenyans to live and work in Russia. Ruto invited Putin to visit Kenya, although it was not immediately clear whether the invitation had been accepted.
Source: Omanghana
