Mudavadi 1
NAIROBI: At least 84 Kenyans have died and 54 others are missing in connection with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told Parliament on Thursday.
Responding to a petition on the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military and the detention of others in Ukrainian prisons, Mudavadi said the government has records of 354 Kenyans involved in the war.
According to the breakdown, 77 Kenyans are on the frontline, 38 are in camps, 52 are at unknown locations and 34 are hospitalised. A further 62 have been repatriated, five are prisoners of war, one is in detention and one has completed their contract.
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Mudavadi said Kenya secured its inclusion on Russia’s “Stop List” during his visit to Moscow in March 2026. The measure is meant to prevent further enlistment of Kenyan nationals. The Kenyan Embassy in Moscow has confirmed that no new Kenyans have been enlisted since it took effect.
He added that the visit also covered consular access and the voluntary exit of Kenyans from military service, subject to their contracts. Russian authorities have said requests to end contracts are considered case by case by unit commanders.
On the dead, Mudavadi said Russia’s Ministry of Defence cannot meet the cost of returning remains to Kenya. The Ministry is working with Russian authorities and affected families on burial, cremation or repatriation, again case by case.
He urged families to contact the State Department as soon as they lose touch with relatives. Once a case is reported, officials collect identification and next-of-kin details and refer it to the Embassy in Moscow, which engages Russian authorities through diplomatic channels.
The issue has drawn parliamentary scrutiny after reports that Kenyans travelled to Russia on promises of civilian jobs and ended up in military service.
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