The Russian Embassy in Kenya has denied reports stating that Russia’s ambassador had been “summoned” by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling the coverage misleading and sensationalized.
The clarification came after reports that Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had “summoned” the Russian Ambassador and demanded access to Kenyan citizens allegedly caught fighting in the Ukraine war.
In response, the Embassy argued that the meeting was a prearranged dialogue rather than an emergency summon.
The Embassy insisted that the meeting between Ambassador Dmitry Maksimychev and Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, was not a disciplinary summon.
“The Russian Ambassador held a pre-arranged meeting with PS for Foreign Affairs and was never ‘summoned’,” read part of the statement by the Russian Embassy.
Also Read: Russian Embassy Clarifies Reports of Putin Supporting Anti-Ruto Protests
PS Korir Clarifies Meeting Was Part of Planned Bilateral Agenda
On his part, the Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, in a statement on the same, had outlined the purpose and substance of his meeting with Russian Ambassador Vsevolod Tkachenko.
Sing’oei explained that the engagement was part of a planned diplomatic roadmap ahead of an upcoming official visit to Moscow by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, in March.
“Met with the Russian Ambassador, H.E. Vsevolod Tkachenko, to discuss the roadmap for enhancing our bilateral relations ahead of the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s official visit to Moscow in March,” read Korir’s statement.
He noted that during their talks, he formally conveyed Kenya’s grave concern over its citizens caught up in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, pressed for unimpeded consular access, and requested clear protocols for the repatriation of prisoners of war and deceased nationals.
“I called for unimpeded consular access to our citizens and sought clear, transparent protocols regarding the repatriation of both prisoners of war and the remains of the deceased.”
Sing’oei also reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding the dignity and safety of its citizens abroad, adding that he welcomed the Embassy’s cooperation in preventing any illegal recruitment of Kenyans.
Also Read: Kenya Embassy in Riyadh Breaks Silence on Viral Kenyan Worker Claims, Details 2,590 Repatriations
Russian Embassy of Kenya Denies Recruitment Claims
In a press release on February 19, the Russian Embassy in Kenya addressed reports claiming that Kenyan citizens have been recruited to join Russia’s Armed Forces and participate in the conflict in Ukraine.
The Embassy strongly denied any involvement in illegal recruitment, asserting that neither the Russian government nor the Embassy has encouraged, coerced, or facilitated Kenyans to travel for military service.
“The Embassy refutes such allegations in the strongest possible terms. The Government authorities of Russia have never engaged in illegal recruitment of Kenyan citizens in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” wrote the Russian Embassy.
The Embassy stated that the Russian law does not prevent foreign nationals who are already legally in Russia from voluntarily exiting. The embassy frames the current accusations as part of a misleading propaganda campaign in Kenya.
Kenya Raises Concerns Over Citizens Caught in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Concerns about the recruitment of Kenyans to Russian military units follow a February 2026 Kenyan intelligence report indicating that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited through rogue networks and misled into traveling to Russia under false promises of employment or education, only to find themselves on the front lines of the Russia–Ukraine war.
The report, presented to Parliament, detailed how recruitment agencies allegedly worked with facilitators to issue tourist visas, and noted that dozens of Kenyans were already confirmed to be fighting, injured, missing, or detained.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
