Kenyan man charged with duping people to fight for Russia in Ukraine war
Al Jazeera
February 26, 2026
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A Kenyan man named Festus Omwamba has been charged with human trafficking after allegedly recruiting 22 young people to fight for the Russian army in the ongoing Ukraine war. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) revealed that Omwamba, operating as the director of a recruitment agency, lured these individuals with false promises of legitimate employment opportunities in Europe. The victims were rescued before being sent to Russia, but three others who had already left ended up on the front lines and returned injured.
Omwamba appeared in court in Kiambu, pleading not guilty to the charges, which his lawyer described as baseless speculations. Authorities believe Omwanda is part of a larger trafficking network targeting vulnerable individuals. He was arrested in Moyale, near the Ethiopian border, earlier this month.
According to a recent National Intelligence Service (NIS) report, over 1,000 Kenyans have joined the Russian army in recent months, often under false pretenses of job opportunities. Many were forced into military contracts and sent to fight in Ukraine. MPs revealed that 89 Kenyan soldiers remain on the front lines, with 39 hospitalized and 28 missing. These findings accuse Russian embassy officials in Nairobi of collaborating with recruitment agencies involved in trafficking.
The Russian embassy denied these allegations, stating that no tourist visas were issued to individuals intending to fight in Ukraine. They emphasized that Russians do not bar foreign nationals from enlisting voluntarily under their
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/26/2026