RUSSIA INSIGHTS: The journey to Russia through a clandestine recruitment network began in early May last year. Recruitment is conducted strictly through referrals; there is no direct or open recruitment. The network originated on the streets of Nairobi before spreading to other cities such as Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret, as well as towns including Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, and Meru.
The first requirement is possession of a Kenyan passport, followed by medical examinations, and finally the signing of a contractual agreement. According to a Kenyan I spoke with yesterday, those being recruited are fully aware that they are joining the Russian army. However, due to security concerns and strict exit controls at Kenyan airports, they are compelled to sign contracts for civilian jobs such as drivers, mechanics, receptionists, or cleaners. This is done deliberately to conceal their true intentions from Kenyan authorities during departure.
Once an individual is trapped in this secret network, they are booked into a hotel in Nairobi for up to two weeks while undergoing the recruitment process and awaiting visa approval. During this period, they are thoroughly coached and isolated from friends and family. Even the exact time of departure is kept secret. As a result, many families are completely unaware that their relatives left the country quietly and traveled to Russia.
The promised salary is KSh 280,000 per month, with an additional bonus of KSh 1.6 million paid after training and just before deployment. Out of this bonus, KSh 600,000 is deducted and remitted to the agency that facilitated the recruitment. It is worth noting that all expenses—including air tickets, food, and accommodation—are reportedly covered by the recruiters.
Basic military training lasts only two weeks, after which recruits are considered ready for deployment to the Ukrainian front, where they face NATO-backed forces. According to a Kenyan who requested anonymity, a group of 15 Kenyans was recruited early December. Eight of them completed training and were deployed. Alarmingly, immediately after reaching the Ukrainian side, all eight went offline without warning. In a WhatsApp group they had created, the only active members are the remaining seven, who are scheduled for deployment today or tomorrow. One Kenyan, having realized the grave risks involved even before deployment, is currently making desperate efforts to escape and return home.
Although recruits are promised a monthly salary of KSh 280,000, the money cannot be accessed while in Ukraine. This means that if one does not survive the war, the earnings are effectively lost. There is no recovery of bodies from the battlefield; many are buried in mass graves, and their stories end there.
Many Kenyans are believed to have died, while others remain alive depending on their area of deployment. Some regions are far more dangerous than others. Those stationed along the Donetsk front and areas close to Kyiv are experiencing intense drone strikes from NATO-led forces.
Kenyans must be warned that this seemingly lucrative package comes at a devastating cost. It is a matter of life and death. I am currently seeking more Kenyans deployed in Russia and Ukraine to shed further light on the realities of the battlefield. I am also in contact with a Nigerian who promised to share firsthand insights from the war front, though I have yet to receive any footage or updates from him.
Many of the Africans recruited are Kenyans and Nigerians, but the syndicate appears to be spreading rapidly across East and Central African nations.