Kenyans enlisted to fight for Russia in the war against Ukraine will be granted amnesty on their return home, the East African nation's foreign minister has said.
The announcement follows Musalia Mudavadi's recent visit to Moscow to tackle the issue and where it was agreed that no more Kenyans would be recruited.
Under Kenya's laws, it is illegal for the country's citizens to be conscripted into foreign armies, an offence that can carry up to a 10-year prison sentence.
The foreign ministry estimates that 252 Kenyans have been illegally conscripted to fight on the front line—a trend that began about six months ago and has also involved recruits from other African countries.
Some Kenyans have reported being lured to fight for Russia with promises of well-paid civilian jobs but ended up pressed into service, often after signing contracts in Russian without understanding their implications.
Mudavadi stated that 44 Kenyans have been repatriated, while 11 are confirmed missing or killed, and 38 hospitalized. Negotiations resulted in an agreement for unwilling combatants to be freed and allowed to return home.
The Kenyan foreign ministry mentioned efforts will be made to combat human trafficking and illegal recruitments to the Russian war effort, responding to domestic pressures for intervention on behalf of affected families.
The move to offer amnesty reflects significant public concern over the safety of Kenyans involved and indicates a proactive approach from the Kenyan government in addressing the crisis.
