Kenya offers amnesty to citizens fighting illegally for Russia

Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Foreign Minister, has revealed that the Kenyan government is offering amnesty to its citizens who joined Russia’s military and fought in Ukraine without permission. 

The announcement follows Musalia Mudavadi’s recent visit to Moscow to address the issue, during which it was agreed that no more Kenyans would be recruited.

According to Kenya’s law, Kenyan citizens are banned from joining foreign armies, and those who do are liable to face up to 10 years in prison.

Kenya’s foreign ministry also estimates that 252 Kenyans have been illegally recruited to fight in Ukraine, a trend that started six months ago involving other African countries.

Russia has previously insisted that all foreign fighters joined voluntarily ”in full compliance with Russian law.”

Reports, however, have it that some Kenyans claimed they were lured to fight for Russia with promises of well-paid civilian jobs, only to find themselves forced into fighting in Ukraine – often signing contracts in Russian without understanding what was involved.

“So far, 44 Kenyans have been safely repatriated back home, while 11 have been reported missing in action/killed in action, 38 are currently hospitalised in various Russian hospitals under restricted access, leaving 160 Kenyan officers still actively involved,” Mudavadi said.

Mudavadi also negotiated a deal that allowed Kenyans currently on the front line and “unwilling to continue in the assignment ” to disengage and be freed to travel back home”, the foreign ministry said.

However, Moscow has agreed to add Kenya to a “stop list” to block further recruitment of Kenyans.

According to Kenya’s foreign ministry, the country and Russia will work together to stop human trafficking and illegal recruitment for the war in Ukraine.

(BBC)