Kin of Kenyans duped into Russia-Ukraine war seek state intervention for repatriation

The victim families said they are facing uncertainty after their kin found themselves in Russia, only to be subjected to the war zone against Ukraine.

The 18 families, while addressing the press this afternoon, narrated how their relatives were unsuspiciously recruited after being duped into going for other legitimate job opportunities, but only to end up in the Russian Army.

They have implored the govt through foreign affairs to move with speed and help in the repatriation of the bodies of those who have died in the combat zones in Russia and the safe return of those who are still alive.

"I was told my husband is dead. He was told that he was being recruited as a driver. After 2 weeks, they were recruited into the military," one of the victims' kin, Grace Gathoni, said on Tuesday.

"We got information from the Russian embassy that they had his body. Yesterday we went to the foreign affairs offices...we weren't told details of where and how he'll be brought back. They asked us to look for between Ksh.600,000 and Ksh.1.5 million to bring back his body.

We are asking the president to help us...he left me with 4 kids.

On their side, a lobby group, Vocal Africa, described the situation as a national crisis, warning that it has exposed the state's failure to protect and oversee its citizens.

Vocal Africa's Executive Khalid Hussein urged the government to crack the whip and take stern action against the rogue recruitment agents participating in deceiving and trafficking Kenyans abroad.

According to families whose kin successfully came back through injuries, many Kenyans in hundreds could be stranded in the hostile conditions with no help in a full-scale war zoned Russian