Families of Kenyans Recruited to Russia's War Demand a Meeting With Ruto Before Moscow Summit

More than 30 families of Kenyans trafficked to Russia and sent to fight in Ukraine gathered in Nairobi to demand an urgent meeting with President William Ruto before his delegates travel to Moscow for the Africa-Russia Summit, Kenyans.co.ke reported on October 6, 2026. The families want Ruto and his delegation to raise the issue directly with Russian authorities, and say they need answers on what happened to their relatives, the repatriation of survivors, and the return of the bodies of the dead for burial.

"We are demanding the President to give us an audience so that we can tell him what we want him to discuss at the summit," the families said, according to the outlet, urging the government to act as more Kenyans continue to be recruited. Some families have gone months without information about their relatives; one woman described not hearing from her son for almost a year.

What the Government Has Said

The families' appeal follows figures given to Kenyan officials over the past several months. Parliament was told earlier this year that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited into Russia's military through rogue recruitment agencies and individuals, with 89 on the front line, 39 hospitalised, 28 missing in action, and 35 deployed to camps or bases. In July, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu gave a different count, saying 289 Kenyans had at one point been recruited, of whom 64 had returned home and 69 were confirmed dead or missing in action. In September, more than 800 affected family members travelled to Nairobi for a Senate hearing seeking answers about their missing and dead relatives.

See also: According to "I Want to Live" at least 59 Kenyans were killed in Russia's army as of June 2026 making it the 4th by the number of casualties among African countries whose citizens were recruited by Russia. 

Get Out Safely

Kenyans and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. Also see our FAQ on how to safely surrender to Ukrainian forces.