The number of Kenyans who have joined the Russian military has climbed to 291, according to the government, with at least 19 confirmed dead in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Officials say the true figure may be higher.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi told a Senate committee on Thursday that more citizens may still be unaccounted for, warning that some left the country through irregular routes without state knowledge.
“The number could rise upon further confirmation from the active battlefield,” Mr Mudavadi said, noting that 53 Kenyans have already been repatriated, 42 remain missing, and two are being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
The latest update marks an increase from the 252 cases reported to Parliament just weeks earlier, underscoring what officials describe as a growing and poorly tracked flow of Kenyans into foreign conflicts.
Senators pressed the Foreign Affairs ministry on what is being done to protect citizens caught up in the war. Mr Mudavadi defended the government’s limited options, citing the dangers of accessing active combat zones.
“It is also a war zone; drones are flying all over,” he said. “You cannot expect diplomats to go to the frontline. It is not that easy. It is a very difficult situation.”
According to the ministry, many of those who travelled to Russia did so through indirect routes, including transit points in North Africa. Officials say recruitment has often taken place outside formal government channels, making monitoring difficult.
In March, Mr Mudavadi travelled to Moscow for talks with Russian officials, where both sides agreed to work towards removing Kenyans from service in the Russian military. The government has also said it is engaging the Russian embassy on possible compensation for affected families.
Authorities have now warned that amnesty measures allowing return may be time-limited. Kenya is also considering tighter laws to curb illegal migration linked to foreign recruitment schemes.
Officials have flagged other regions, including parts of the Gulf and Southeast Asia’s so-called “Golden Triangle,” as high-risk destinations for Kenyans seeking informal employment abroad.
While the government continues diplomatic engagement, the unfolding situation has raised difficult questions at home about recruitment networks, youth vulnerability, and the limits of state protection once citizens enter foreign conflict zones.
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