Ruiru family seeks answers after son allegedly killed in Russia-Ukraine war

Family members of Simon Wahome Gititu said they received information from social media that he had been killed in Ukraine.

Information on the discovery of two Kenyan bodies in Ukraine was posted by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, alleging the two were fighting for Russia.

The information was new to Simon Wahome Gititu's family, bringing tragic news of the death of their son in a war in Ukraine and dampening their spirits.

“I received a call while at work and was told that Simon, who had been missing in Russia, had died and that the news was on social media. I felt weak and almost collapsed. I called my family members and they confirmed it," Loice Wangari, Simon Gititu's mother, stated.

Gititu's family in Mugutha, Ruiru, is dealing with grief. Tents have been set up as relatives and friends stream in to condole with the family. Simon left the country in August 2023 and proceeded to Qatar, where he worked as a security officer.

He was there until October last year when he got a connection through a friend who had left Qatar for Russia, and he was convinced to travel to Russia for a better-paying job in the military. 

The family says they were aware of the move but worried about him. Gititu even called his mother when he arrived in Russia and shared details of his contract as a delivery person within the Russian military.

“He called and told us he had arrived safely in Russia and had been received well. He sounded very happy. He said he had been given a contract and was even promised citizenship," Wangari stated.

Matters took a turn when Gititu and others were taken for military training sessions and subsequently armed for a mission in the Russia-Ukraine war. There was little or no communication with his family, leaving his mother worried.

“After the fourth week, he called and said he had been given a gun and a uniform and that they were going to war. After some time, he stopped calling," she narrated. 

The last time the family talked to Gititu was on November 16, 2025. On February 6 this year, the family received news of his passing, which was circulating on social media. This left the entire family heartbroken.

Gititu's wife says she still does not know how to convey the news to their three young children. The family remains unsure whether they will get his body back home.

The family still clings to hope that their kin may be alive and safe despite the reports, yet they say they want his body brought home if the reality of his death is confirmed.