Kenya secures agreement with Russia to stop enlisting its citizens for combat in Ukraine, addressing concerns over forced conscription.

MOSCOW: Russia has agreed to stop recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight alongside its forces in Ukraine, according to a statement from Kenya’s foreign minister following high-level talks in Moscow.

Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced the agreement after meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, stating “we have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted”.

The announcement addresses growing concerns over Moscow’s alleged forced conscription of Kenyans, with the east African country’s intelligence services estimating more than 1,000 of its citizens have been sent to the front line.

Ukraine’s estimates from February indicate more than 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries are currently fighting alongside Russian forces in the conflict.

Lavrov did not explicitly mention the recruitment agreement in his public remarks but acknowledged the Russian defence ministry was examining cases that had caused “concern among our Kenyan friends”.

The Russian foreign minister asserted that “Russia is not forcing anyone to enlist”, claiming volunteers join the military operation “in full compliance with Russian law”.

Reports have detailed how some individuals were lured by promises of high salaries and sign-up bonuses, while others say they were deceived into signing contracts after travelling to Russia for regular employment or sporting events.

Kenyan long-distance runner Evans Kibet, who was captured by Ukraine and held as a prisoner of war, told AFP he was tricked into signing an army contract after attending a sporting event in Russia.

The agreement comes amid widespread accusations that Russia has been recruiting people from various nationalities to bolster its forces since ordering troops into Ukraine in 2022.

 The Sun Malaysia