The Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei summoned the Russian Ambassador to Kenya, Vsevolod Tkachenko, over concerns about Kenyan nationals reportedly caught up in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a statement after the meeting Friday, Sing’oei said he had conveyed the Government’s “grave concern” regarding Kenyans believed to be on the war front in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The talks, held in Nairobi, also focused on preparations for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s planned official visit to Moscow in March, as the two countries seek to enhance bilateral relations.
However, the plight of Kenyans allegedly recruited or caught up in the conflict dominated the discussions.
“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 said.
He emphasized that the Government’s priority remains the safety, dignity and welfare of every Kenyan abroad.
The PS also welcomed the cooperation of the Russian embassy in preventing illegal recruitment of Kenyans into the conflict, amid growing reports of foreign nationals being enlisted to fight.
Kenya has in the past issued advisories warning its citizens against travel to active conflict zones and has reiterated its neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war while calling for diplomatic resolution.
The latest diplomatic engagement underscores Nairobi’s push to safeguard its citizens while maintaining strategic ties with Moscow.
denied allegations that it is involved in recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a detailed statement, the Embassy expressed “great concern” over what it described as a “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign” circulating in Kenyan media and public discourse.
The campaign centers on reports of Kenyan nationals who travelled to Russia, joined the Russian Armed Forces, and participated in combat operations in Ukraine.
The diplomatic mission said recent accusations have directly implicated the Embassy and its staff in alleged rogue recruitment schemes — claims it firmly rejected.
“The Government authorities of Russia have never engaged in illegal recruitment of Kenyan citizens into the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” the statement read.
The Embassy further clarified that at no time during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has it issued visas to Kenyan citizens for the stated purpose of participating in what Moscow refers to as the Special Military Operation (SMO).
It also denied encouraging or colluding with any individuals or entities to lure or coerce Kenyans into joining the conflict under false pretenses.
However, the Embassy noted that Russian law does not prohibit foreign nationals from voluntarily enlisting in the Russian Armed Forces, provided they are legally present in Russia and choose to do so.
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