Kenyan President William Ruto says Moscow has agreed to facilitate the return of Kenyan nationals recruited into its armed forces as the two countries seek closer economic ties.
NAIROBI, Oct 31 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to stop the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into Russia’s military and facilitate the return of those already enlisted, Kenyan President William Ruto said following talks at the Kremlin in Moscow.
Ruto said Putin had confirmed that Kenya was now classified as a non-source country for Russian military recruitment, a move intended to prevent more Kenyans from being enlisted amid Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine.
The announcement follows growing concerns over Kenyan nationals recruited to fight alongside Russian forces, including reports of deaths, disappearances and injuries among those deployed to the battlefield.
Ruto said his government had appointed a defence attaché to Kenya’s embassy in Moscow to work directly with the Russian Defence Ministry on the repatriation of affected citizens and compensation claims.
The official will also coordinate efforts to secure the safe return of Kenyans who were recruited for military service.
The latest commitment follows an earlier agreement announced by Kenyan officials in March to end the enlistment of Kenyan nationals in Russia’s armed forces.
Beyond the recruitment issue, the two leaders discussed expanding diplomatic, economic and educational cooperation during their meeting, held alongside the Russia-Africa Summit.
Ruto said both governments had agreed to negotiate a bilateral labour agreement that would establish legal pathways for Kenyan citizens to live and work in Russia.
The leaders also discussed increasing the number of Russian scholarships available to Kenyan students from 70 to 300, with opportunities in healthcare, artificial intelligence, aviation, technology and cybersecurity.
According to Ruto, Putin also expressed support for expanding the United Nations Office at Nairobi, one of the UN’s principal global duty stations and its only headquarters-level presence in the developing world.
Kenya and Russia signed five cooperation instruments covering areas including economic relations, employment, labour inspection, transport, diplomatic training and visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The agreements also provide for the establishment of an intergovernmental commission to coordinate economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral engagement.
Ruto extended an invitation to Putin to visit Kenya as Nairobi and Moscow seek to broaden their partnership.
The discussions come as Russia steps up efforts to strengthen its political and economic influence across Africa, including through trade, investment, education and security cooperation.
