The Kenyan Government will extend amnesty to Kenyans who joined the Russian Special Military Operation forces in the Russian Federation, as announced by Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
In a press statement dated March 22, from the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Russian Federation agreed to put Kenya on the (STOP LIST) on the enlistment of its nationals to fight in the Russia – Ukraine war.
The agreement was made during an official visit to Moscow, Russian Federation, for a formal bilateral meeting by Musalia Mudavadi from March 15 to March 18.
Musalia Mudavadi engaged with Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in the bilateral meeting.
In addressing the issue of Kenyan citizens recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, the two countries agreed to stop any further recruitment of Kenyan nationals into the Russian Special Military Operations (SMO).
Additionally, all the Kenyans who were currently in the operations and unwilling to continue in the assignment were to be immediately disengaged and freed to travel back to Kenya.
Kenyans in Russian SMO
“So far, 44 Kenyans have been safely repatriated back home, while 11 have been reported missing in action/killed in action, 38 are currently hospitalized in various Russian hospitals under restricted access, leaving 160 Kenyan officers still actively involved in SMO,” said Mudavadi.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) report presented to the Kenyan Parliament in February 2026 showed that over 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight on the Russian side.
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Consular access to Kenyan nationals in hospitals and other civilian facilities, to support the repatriation of the injured and the dignified return of the remains of those who have lost their lives, was granted to the Kenyan Mission in Moscow.
Information sharing between Kenya and Russia was initiated in an effort to curb human trafficking, smuggling, and illegal recruitment to the Russian SMO.
According to the reports by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, approximately 252 Kenyans are part of the Russian SMO.
The ministry, in coordination with other stakeholders, has embarked on a programme, ‘Linda Mkenya Majuu’, to educate Kenyans on legitimate jobs in the Diaspora.
Moreover, the Prime Cabinet Secretary noted that the government has already moved to shut down over 600 unlicensed recruitment agencies suspected of human trafficking and misleading job seekers.
Also Read: Kenya, Russia Agree to Stop Enlistment of Kenyans in Ukraine War Special Operations
Amnesty to Kenyans Recruited in the Russian SMO
Mudavadi has stated that the government will extend the amnesty to the Kenyans recruited to serve in the Russia- Ukraine war, which is against the Kenyan laws.
Kenyan Law states that it is illegal for Kenyans to be recruited into foreign armies unless the person being recruited is a citizen of that country.
Section 68 of the Kenyan Penal Code, Cap. 63, prohibits the enlistment of Kenyan nationals in the military or armed forces of any foreign state without the written authority of the President of Kenya.
Offenders who act in contravention of the penal code could attract up to 10 years’ imprisonment unless the court is satisfied that the enlistment was not voluntary.
The underdog in this conflict is Ukraine :the party that was invaded. Why not join on the side of the
underdog, if join you must?