In a report submitted to the Kenyan Parliament, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed that over 1,000 Kenyans have actively joined the Russian military to fight in the ongoing Ukraine war, a significant increase from approximately 200 reported by the Kenyan Foreign Ministry last November. The recruitment of these individuals has been linked to illegal recruiting agencies that connive with corrupt local officials, wherein they target Kenyans seeking employment abroad, particularly ex-military personnel, police, and unemployed individuals aged between their mid-20s to 50s. These recruiters lure candidates with attractive financial packages, including monthly salaries and substantial bonuses, as well as promises of Russian citizenship after contract completion.

As Kenyan authorities have ramped up efforts to prevent its citizens from departing to Russia, reports indicate that the recruitment networks have resorted to bribing government employees to facilitate travel. When enforcement increased at Kenyan airports, candidates have started using neighboring countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as transit points to reach Russia. As the situation persists, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to protest against the illegal recruitment of its citizens during a meeting with Russian officials next month. This follows the government's recent announcement that 27 Kenyans stranded in Russia were successfully rescued.

Despite the blurring lines of legality and complicity, the Russian embassy in Kenya denied allegations of illegal conscription, maintaining that foreign citizens are allowed to voluntarily enlist in the Russian military. The conflict, which has now approached its fourth year, has seen Russia intensifying efforts to recruit foreign fighters from nations such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa in an attempt to bolster its military ranks amidst ongoing wartime pressures.