84 Kenyans Killed, 54 Missing in Russia-Ukraine War, Mudavadi Says
Kenya secures repatriation and compensation for Kenyans in Russian military operations
At least 84 Kenyans have been killed while 54 others remain missing in connection with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has said.
Mudavadi, responding to a petition on the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into the Russian military and the detention of Kenyans in Ukrainian prisons in Parliament on Thursday, said the Ministry has records of 354 Kenyans involved in the conflict.
The figures include Kenyans whose current whereabouts and circumstances have been established by the government.
Mudavadi said 77 Kenyans are currently on the frontline, 38 are in camps, 52 are at unknown locations and 34 are hospitalised.
A further 62 Kenyans have been repatriated, while one is in detention, one has completed their contract and five are prisoners of war.
He said the government continues to work with families seeking information about relatives who travelled to Russia and subsequently lost contact.
“It has been noted that families tend to engage with the State Department often after communication with their relatives in the Russian Federation has been disrupted or ceased. We encourage families to engage the Department as soon as possible,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi said that once a family reports a missing Kenyan, the State Department obtains identification details, including information on when the person travelled and the contacts of their next of kin.
The case is then referred to the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow for verification and further follow-up.
He said the State Department for Diaspora Affairs regularly communicates with the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow and sends diplomatic notes to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nairobi.
“The Mission in Moscow in turn engages the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,” Mudavadi said.
He said the government has continued diplomatic engagement with Russian authorities on the welfare and status of Kenyans involved in the conflict.
Mudavadi said Kenya secured its inclusion on Russia’s “Stop List” during his official visit to Moscow in March 2026.
The measure was intended to prevent further enlistment of Kenyan nationals into Russia’s special military operation.
He said the visit also addressed consular access and the voluntary disengagement of Kenyans from military service, subject to applicable contractual arrangements.
The Embassy of Kenya in Moscow has since confirmed that no additional Kenyan nationals have been enlisted in the Special Military Operation following implementation of the Stop List.
Russian authorities have also advised that requests to terminate military contracts are considered on a case-by-case basis by the respective military unit commanders.
Mudavadi said Russian authorities had informed Kenya that the Russian Ministry of Defence was unable to meet the cost of repatriating the remains of deceased Kenyan nationals.
“The Ministry continues to engage the Russian authorities and the affected families to facilitate appropriate burial, cremation or repatriation arrangements on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
The government is also continuing to work through diplomatic channels to establish the status of Kenyans reported missing, detained or involved in military operations.
The issue of Kenyans recruited into the Russian military has been under parliamentary scrutiny following reports of nationals travelling to Russia after being promised civilian employment before ending up in military service.
The government has previously said it is working with Russian authorities to facilitate the voluntary disengagement of Kenyans serving in the Russian military, subject to the terms of their contracts.
