Kenya rescues 20 people set for trafficking to Russia
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Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 29-09-2025, 01:55PM
NAIROBI, Kenya - Police in Kenya rescued over 20 people believed to have been waiting for processing to travel to Russia, with the main intention being to join the Russian war against Ukraine, which has left thousands of people dead.
It follows an intelligence-led raid on a residential apartment on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi, where officers seized recruitment materials, travel documents, and job offer letters, officials said.
So far, one suspect believed to have been coordinating the exercise has since been arrested and is expected to be arraigned in court once the evidence is documented within the next 10 days.
There have been growing concerns over the rising number of Kenyans being trafficked abroad under false job promises, BBC reports. Recently, a young athlete was captured in Ukraine saying he was tricked into joining the Russian army.
'I'm Kenyan, don't shoot' - the athlete who says he was duped into the Russian army
Authorities said Wednesday's arrest followed a coordinated multi-agency security operation targeting the criminal network, which has been extorting huge sums from desperate Kenyan job seekers.
A total of 22 Kenyans were found in an apartment in the Athi River area, "awaiting processing to Russia". Police said the "mysterious trafficking syndicate" was luring Kenyans with job offers in Moscow, only to send them to fight for the Russian military in Ukraine.
Investigations indicate that they had signed contracts with an overseas company committing to pay up to $18,000 (£13,000) for visas, travel, accommodation, and other logistics.
Already, some victims had paid deposits of up to $1500. Once recruited, police said many return home injured, traumatised, or in some cases, never make it back.
A senior foreign ministry official recently said the Kenyan government was following up reports of several Kenyan nationals who had allegedly been trafficked to Russia and were now being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine, BBC adds.
GAROWE ONLINE
