More than 20 people have been rescued in Kenya from a suspected human trafficking ring that lured them with job offers in Russia but intended to send them to fight in Ukraine, police said.
The operation follows an intelligence-led raid on a residential apartment on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi, where officers seized recruitment materials, travel documents, and job offer letters.
One suspect, accused of coordinating the victims' travel to Russia in September and October, has been arrested. He was taken to court, which allowed him to be detained for 10 days while the police complete their investigations.
Authorities have raised concerns over the rising number of Kenyans being trafficked abroad under false job promises. In a related incident, a young Kenyan athlete expressed that he was tricked into joining the Russian army while in Ukraine.
The recent arrest is part of a multi-agency operation targeting a criminal network that has exploited desperate Kenyan job seekers, extracting large sums for fictitious employment opportunities.
During the raid, police found 22 Kenyans in an apartment in Athi River, 'awaiting processing to Russia'. The trafficking syndicate allegedly offered job placements in Moscow, diverting individuals to military enlistment in Ukraine.
Victims disclosed that they signed contracts with an unnamed overseas employment agency, pledging to pay up to $18,000 for visas, travel, accommodation, and related logistics. Some victims reported having already paid a deposit of $1,500.
The consequences have been grim, with many returning home injured and traumatized, while others reportedly do not return at all. Recently, two Kenyans returned from Ukraine, one of whom is hospitalized.
A senior official from Kenya's foreign ministry indicated that the government is monitoring several reports of Kenyan nationals trafficked to Russia who are now believed to be held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
Countries from Africa such as Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Togo have also been reported to have citizens among the captured individuals, but the lack of interest displayed by most African states in repatriating them is concerning.
