Kirinyaga family mourns son allegedly killed in Russia-Ukraine war after being lured with job promise

The family of 23-year-old Eric Mwangi Nyambura from Githaiti village in Mukure Ward, Ndia Constituency, said they only paid Ksh10,000 for his passport, only for him to end up in Russia and later be taken to the front line.

Speaking at their homestead, his mother Joyce Nyambura Mundia said her son travelled quickly after getting the passport.

“After three days, Eric was already in Russia,” she said.

His sister, Pauline Wanjiku Nyambura, said they kept in touch after he arrived in Russia on October 25, 2025, but he later told her he had been subjected to military training and deployed to the war zone.

She said the family’s fears grew after he sent a WhatsApp message on December 24, 2025 warning that he had met other Kenyans already on the front line and could not assure them he was safe.

Pauline said their last attempt to reach him was on January 8, 2026, when he only “blue-ticked” messages, after which the family later learnt he had died.

The family said they came across information on an online page linked to Ukraine indicating that Mwangi had been killed.

Relatives and neighbours have appealed to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to intervene and help the family repatriate his body, and to establish how he was recruited.

They also raised questions about an alleged agent they identified as “Siz Maria”, whom they claimed only asked for a passport before switching off her phone after Mwangi travelled.