The Kenyan government has announced a move to take legal action against citizens joining the Russian army.
The government asserted that enlisting in foreign military forces without presidential authorization is a violation of national law.
Speaking before the National Assembly, Kenya’s Foreign Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, emphasized that the country’s penal code strictly prohibited citizens from serving in foreign armed forces, a crime that can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
The government’s crackdown comes amid reports that hundreds of Kenyans have been lured into the Russia-Ukraine conflict by “rogue” recruitment agencies.
The Kenyan government repatriated around 47 nationals who had been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but some Kenyans continue to participate willingly.
However, Mudavadi reminded lawmakers that Kenyan citizens cannot serve in the military, police, or other armed forces of other nations without permission from their government, according to the country’s penal law.
Under Kenyan law, it is illegal for citizens to be conscripted into foreign armies, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison
The majority of Kenyans who enlisted to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict “went there with full knowledge and willingly,” the minister said.
“Once it is established they have been involved in this exercise, they stand to face the full force of the law for engaging in criminal activities,” he added.
According to the foreign secretary, those enlisted signed contracts that offered Russian citizenship and sign-on bonuses of up to 3 million shillings ($23,000).
The decision of Kenya to take legal action against citizens joining the Russian Army comes after heavy international scrutiny.
Russia has since decided to cease recruiting Kenyans to fight in its war.
It was reported that about 316 Africans have died fighting against Ukraine, according to a report released in February by the NGO Inpact, which manages the All Eyes On Wagner initiative.
Many of these Africans are reported to have received no military training.
Estimates show that nearly 1,780 Africans from 36 countries have been drawn into the conflict.
Kenya’s foreign ministry also revealed last month that as many as 252 Kenyans had been illegally conscripted into Russia’s military operations, with at least 10 Kenyans feared dead and 38 injured.
Investigations and diplomatic reports indicate that young Africans, particularly those from nations grappling with severe unemployment and economic instability, such as Kenya, are being enticed to Russia and Ukraine.
These individuals are often recruited under the guise of lucrative civilian employment, security assignments, or educational prospects.
Recruiters are reported to typically target unemployed people, police officers, and former military personnel by offering bonuses of up to 1.2 million Kenyan shillings ($9,309) and a monthly salary of roughly 350,000 shillings ($2,715).
Furthermore, reports indicate that upon their arrival, certain individuals have had their travel documents seized and were subsequently pressured or intimidated into executing military agreements.
These contracts are often composed in the Russian language or contain complex legal terminology that the recruits do not fully comprehend.
