Kenyan man lured to Russia war zone missing for 9 months, family cries for help

30-year-old Richard Ouma is reported to have been duped into travelling under a tourist Visa, only to end up on the battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine war.

For seven months, a cloud of uncertainty has hung over the home of Teresia Onyango in Kodumo village. Her son, who previously worked as a military officer in Nanyuki, left Kenya in search of greener pastures, but the situation reportedly took a turn for the worse upon his arrival in Russia.

Communication with Ouma went silent in August after he was reportedly deployed to the frontline.

“Tuko na wasiwasi kama familia juu mtu kama ako huko nje huwezi jua shida iko wapi. Kama ako na changamoto zingine kama ako hospitali ama ako wapi hatuwezi kujua,” said Beryl Awuor, his sister-in-law.

His mother, Teresia Onyango, made an emotional appeal to the government.

“Niko na uchungu mingi sasa naomba serikali inisaidie kwa huyu mtoto wangu aweze kurudi hapa Kenya maana sijui kama ako hai ama aliaga dunia,” she said.

While appearing before Parliament, Mudavadi stated that 252 Kenyans who were recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war remain stranded, with only 47 having been rescued and repatriated.