A new United States report has raised serious concerns over the alleged involvement of Kenyan government officials in the recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
The 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, released by the US Department of State on Thursday, October 8, alleges that some Kenyan officials worked with recruitment agencies and Russian government officials to recruit Kenyans through fraudulent job offers.
The report has renewed concerns about human trafficking, corruption and the protection of Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
The report comes a day after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi addressed the issue of Kenyans being recruited into the Russian military and outlined government efforts to protect affected citizens.
According to the US report, some Kenyans were reportedly promised well-paying jobs in sectors such as construction and security before being pressured into signing contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
The report also criticised the Kenyan government for failing to take sufficient action against recruitment agencies allegedly linked to public officials and suspected trafficking networks.
It cited reports indicating that more than 10 per cent of Kenyan government officials have ownership interests in private employment agencies, raising concerns about possible conflicts of interest in the recruitment sector.
However, the report did not identify all the officials allegedly involved or provide details of the outcome of investigations into the suspected recruitment network.
The findings come amid growing concern over the number of Kenyans who have travelled to Russia after being offered employment opportunities, only to find themselves involved in military operations in the war against Ukraine.
The Kenyan government has been working to trace affected citizens and bring home those who can be rescued. On October 8, Mudavadi told a joint Senate committee that 62 Kenyans had been repatriated, as authorities continued efforts to locate others whose whereabouts remained unknown.
The US report also questioned Kenya’s wider efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly the investigation and prosecution of suspected offenders.
Kenya investigated 43 human trafficking cases in 2025, compared with 42 in 2024. However, the number of prosecutions fell from 44 to 14, while convictions under the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act dropped from 21 in 2024 to six in 2025.
The six convictions included five cases involving sex trafficking and one involving forced labour, according to the report. It also raised concerns about corruption and alleged involvement of public officials in trafficking-related offences.
Despite these concerns, the report recognised progress in identifying and assisting victims. Kenyan authorities identified 271 victims during the reporting period, compared with 195 in the previous period.
The government also worked with non-governmental organisations to provide support to hundreds of victims.
However, the report highlighted gaps in protection services, particularly for adult victims who need safe accommodation and other forms of assistance.
Funding for direct assistance through the National Assistance Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking fell to Sh9.27 million from Sh20 million in the previous year, raising further concerns about the resources available to support survivors.
Kenya retained its Tier 2 ranking in the US report, meaning the country is making significant efforts to combat human trafficking but has not fully met the minimum standards required to eliminate the crime.
The findings put fresh pressure on Kenyan authorities to strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies, investigate allegations of official involvement and improve support for victims.
