Kenyan Police Arrest Man Accused Of Recruiting Fighters For Russia's War In Ukraine

NAIROBI, Kenya — Police successful Kenya person arrested a man named successful an alleged strategy that duped Kenyans pinch promises of skilled activity successful Russia, only for them to extremity up connected nan beforehand lines of nan fighting successful Ukraine.

Festus Omwamba was arrested connected suspicion of quality trafficking successful nan bluish Kenyan municipality of Moyale, adjacent nan separator pinch Ethiopia. He was charged Thursday successful an antiterror tribunal successful nan capital, Nairobi, pinch trafficking 25 Kenyans to Russia past year. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said Omwamba sought to fly Kenya aft returning from Russia.

Omwamba, who was identified by 3 Kenyan recruits who said to nan Associated Press, had gone missing aft families started protesting nan disappearances and deaths of their relatives successful nan warfare successful Ukraine.

The Kenyan authorities past week said much than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to conflict for Russia successful Ukraine and that astatine slightest 89 Kenyans were still connected nan beforehand line, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing successful action, and others had returned home. It has confirmed 1 death.

An intelligence study presented to Kenya’s Parliament by nan mostly leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, said Kenyan and Russian authorities officials colluded pinch rogue occupation recruitment agencies to lure Kenyans to nan beforehand lines.

The Russian Embassy successful Nairobi has denied nan allegations, saying past week that it ne'er issued visas to anyone intending to recreation to Russia to conflict successful Ukraine.

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi told nan AP connected Feb. 9 that he would recreation to Russia for what he called a “diplomatic attack to rein successful immoderate dubious entities that are taking advantage of anyone successful this misadventure.” He said efforts to unafraid nan merchandise of Kenyans successful Ukrainian prisons and repatriate those successful Russia were ongoing.

Omwamba’s apprehension is seen arsenic a awesome improvement successful nan government’s push to extremity nan recruitment of Kenyans to conflict successful Ukraine.

A enlistee who escaped from nan beforehand statement and sought refuge astatine nan Kenyan Embassy successful Russia, and was later processed for return home, John Kamau, told nan AP he met Omwamba astatine a location successful Nairobi wherever chap recruits awaiting recreation to Russia were kept.

Another recruit, who requested anonymity for fearfulness of being tracked down by Russians, said Omwamba avoided contacting nan recruits by matter connection and would alternatively telephone them aliases meet them successful person.

The enlistee had signed up aft being told he would get a plumbing occupation successful Russia, but connected arrival, his passport was taken distant and he was taken to a subject campy for a fewer days earlier being deployed to nan beforehand line.

The relative of different enlistee who went to Russia successful August 2025 told nan AP connected Thursday that his relative shared messages betwixt him and Omwamba earlier he traveled.

In nan messages, Omwamba asked Reuben Nyaboga to make payments and gave him slope relationship specifications that showed that he had paid Omwamba’s recruitment agency.

Nyaboga’s contract, seen by nan AP, was, however, generated nether a different recruitment institution registered nether different director’s name. It stated that he was going to activity arsenic an “armed information guard.”

“On nan time of travel, I saw Omwamba astatine nan airdrome handing retired passports to my relative and different men he was walking with,” Nyaboga’s relative Lamech Mboga told nan AP. Nyaboga has not been successful touch pinch his family since past twelvemonth and is believed to beryllium among nan prisoners of warfare held successful Ukraine.

The recruits said Omwamba oversaw their tourer visa applications and summons purchases, and 2 weeks aft nan first contact, they received visas and traveled to Russia.

Musambi and Wandera constitute for nan Associated Press.