President William Ruto has held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with the safety of Kenyans reportedly recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war emerging as one of the issues discussed.
The meeting comes amid growing concerns over reports of Kenyans being recruited to join Russian forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The two leaders also discussed Kenya-Russia relations and areas of cooperation, including economic development, trade and multilateral engagement.
During the meeting, Putin praised Kenya's contribution to the United Nations, saying Moscow supported Nairobi's continued involvement in the work of the global organisation.
Putin also acknowledged the Kenyan leader's participation in the Russia-Africa engagements, saying the two countries had an opportunity to discuss their bilateral relations, which date back to 1963.
The meeting followed Ruto's address at the Third Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum, where he called on Moscow to deepen its economic partnership with the continent by investing in manufacturing, technology, agriculture and other productive sectors.
Addressing delegates at the Kremlin, Ruto said Africa was seeking partnerships that would enable countries to process their own resources, create jobs and compete in the global economy rather than remain suppliers of raw materials.
He also called for stronger cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceutical research and local vaccine manufacturing, arguing that recent global health emergencies had exposed the need for Africa to strengthen its capacity to produce essential medicines and medical technologies.
On international governance, Ruto renewed calls for reforms to the global financial architecture, saying African countries needed fairer access to development financing to support infrastructure, industrialisation and economic growth.
The President also called for Africa to secure permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the continent's 1.4 billion people could no longer remain excluded from the body's permanent membership.
The Moscow visit comes amid pressure on the Kenyan government from families seeking answers about relatives allegedly recruited to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
