By Ngozi Agu
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kenya has issued a stern rebuttal against reports alleging its involvement in the recruitment of Kenyan citizens to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a press release dated February 19, 2026, the Embassy addressed what it termed a “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign” appearing in Kenyan media. The statement comes amid rising public scrutiny over cases of Kenyans who have traveled to Russia, joined the Russian Armed Forces, and engaged in combat.
Key Denials and Legal Clarifications
The Embassy’s statement focuses on three primary points to distance itself from accusations of “rogue schemes” or coercive recruitment:
No Official Recruitment: The Embassy “refutes such allegations in the strongest possible terms,” stating that Russian authorities have never engaged in the illegal recruitment of Kenyan citizens.
Visa Integrity: Officials claim that at no point were visas issued to Kenyans who stated their intent was to participate in the “Special Military Operation” (SMO), nor has the Embassy encouraged or lured citizens into the conflict under false pretenses.
Voluntary Enlistment: The statement clarifies that Russian law does not prevent foreign citizens from voluntarily enlisting if they are already in Russia on a legal basis. It describes these individuals as choosing to fight “shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen.”
Diplomatic Stance and Cooperation
Despite the friction caused by these reports, the Embassy emphasized its desire to maintain a “constructive and depoliticized dialogue” with the Kenyan government.
The release noted that several bilateral draft agreements—some of which have been under consideration for years—remain on the table. These include protocols regarding:
Labour migration
Travelling arrangements
Security coordination between national law enforcement agencies.
The Embassy concluded by urging the “soonest finalization” of these agreements to establish a formal framework for Russia-Kenya collaboration, suggesting that such structures would help resolve “legitimate concerns” on both sides.
