The Government has clarified that Kenyan nationals
reportedly captured while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war were victims of
manipulation and human trafficking.
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei
made the revelation on Monday following a meeting with Ukraine’s new Ambassador
to Kenya, Yurii Tokar, who paid him a courtesy call in Nairobi.
Sing’Oei said the government was closely following up on the
matter and was engaging Ukrainian authorities to ensure that the captured
Kenyans receive consular assistance and are safely repatriated back home.
“Following recent reports of Kenyan nationals captured by
Ukrainian forces while on the frontline, I sought Ambassador Tokar’s support
for the Kenyans to access consular assistance and for their repatriation back
to the country,” he said.
The PS emphasised that most of the affected individuals were
misled and trafficked into the conflict zones under false pretences, often
lured by promises of lucrative job opportunities abroad.
“I assured him that most Kenyans involved were victims of
manipulation and trafficking, and the government was doing everything possible
to protect vulnerable Kenyans,” he added.
Sing’Oei reiterated Kenya’s longstanding position that
dialogue and respect for national sovereignty remain the most viable paths to
resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has entered its third year.
The meeting came a few weeks after a Kenyan athlete, Evans
Kibet, who claimed to have been forcefully recruited into the Russian army, was
captured by Ukraine’s 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade in the Kharkiv Oblast,
near the town of Vovchansk, after surrendering.
According to Kibet, he had travelled to Russia as a tourist
before being tricked by his contact into signing up for the Russian army. He
had been in the country for two weeks on a tourist visa.
“I joined the Russian military not knowing I was being
recruited. I have never been in the military, and I have never wanted a military
job.
“I went there as a tourist and spent two weeks, but when I
had one day left before returning, the man who received me asked what I thought
of Russia. I said it was good. He asked if I would like to stay, I said yes,
but my visa had expired,” Kibet said.
A few weeks later, the PS announced that at least four
Kenyan nationals have so far been rescued and repatriated back to Kenya after
being illegally conscripted into the Russian army.
Sing’Oei in a statement said the efforts were being led by
the Kenyan Mission in Moscow.
This comes amid growing concern in Kenya over reports that
some citizens have been duped into travelling to Russia and other countries
under the guise of employment or athletic opportunities, only to end up in
combat zones.
The government has since cautioned Kenyans against falling
prey to human trafficking networks exploiting global conflicts for recruitment.
During the meeting with Ambassador Tokar, the Principal
Secretary sought Ukraine’s backing for Kenya’s candidature to the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) Council and for Professor Phoebe Okowa’s bid to
serve as a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
