More than 1,000 Kenyan men were allegedly deceived into joining the Russian military to fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, according to the 2026 US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report on Kenya.
The report raised concerns over the recruitment of Kenyans seeking employment abroad, who were reportedly promised lucrative jobs before being channelled into military service in Russia. It identified the practice as a significant human trafficking concern.
According to the report, some Kenyan officials allegedly colluded with recruitment agencies and Russian government officials to facilitate the recruitment of the men.
“Officials reported some Kenyan officials colluded with recruitment agencies and government officials from Russia to facilitate the fraudulent recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for the Russian military in the Russia-Ukraine war,” the report stated.
The men were reportedly offered well-paying positions in the security and construction sectors but were later pressured into signing contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
The report noted that the recruitment process involved misleading job offers that ultimately placed the Kenyan nationals in military service in Ukraine.
Beyond the recruitment of men, the report highlighted concerns over the alleged exploitation of young African women, including Kenyans, through vocational training programmes that reportedly led to employment at Russian military drone manufacturing facilities.
According to media reports and non-governmental organisations cited in the document, women aged between 18 and 22 from Africa, South Asia and South America were allegedly recruited by Russian officials and other intermediaries under the guise of vocational training before being placed in facilities producing military drones.
The report identified several working conditions at these facilities as possible indicators of human trafficking, including hazardous environments, surveillance, violations of working hours and wages, changes to employment contracts, and recruitment fees charged to workers.
Corruption and Official Complicity
The report also identified corruption and alleged involvement of public officials as significant barriers to Kenya’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
It indicated that the government had investigated three Ministry of Labour officials over allegations that they accepted bribes to facilitate potential trafficking offences involving migrant workers travelling to the Middle East.
The document further cited allegations that criminal networks worked with officers in law enforcement and immigration departments to move trafficking victims through Kenya, including via border checkpoints and airports.
Civil society organisations also reportedly raised concerns about corruption within government programmes intended to prepare Kenyans for employment abroad.
The report highlighted potential conflicts of interest involving public officials who allegedly held financial interests in private recruitment agencies sending Kenyans to work overseas.
Media reports cited in the document claimed that more than 10 per cent of Kenyan government officials had ownership interests in private employment agencies, including firms recruiting migrant workers for Saudi Arabia.
It also cited allegations that some Kenyan embassy officials in Saudi Arabia demanded money or sexual favours from women seeking government assistance to escape abusive employers and return home.
The report further raised concerns over recruitment agencies allegedly owned by government employees, noting that authorities had not reported taking action against such firms over suspected involvement in trafficking-related offences.
Instead, the report observed that agencies were frequently charged with lesser offences, including failure to register their recruitment businesses.
Government Measures to Regulate Recruitment Agencies
Despite the concerns raised, the report acknowledged that Kenya had established regulatory measures to monitor recruitment agencies and address fraudulent employment practices.
The National Employment Authority (NEA) was responsible for overseeing more than 500 licensed recruitment agencies, with agency directors required to register in person as part of the vetting process.
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However, officials reportedly acknowledged that proxy ownership remained common in the recruitment industry.
The authority had also introduced initiatives aimed at improving ethical recruitment practices and helping Kenyans access legitimate overseas employment opportunities.
According to the report, 140 recruitment agencies had undergone ethics training.
The NEA also operated an external employment management system designed as a central online platform where Kenyans could search and apply for vetted overseas job opportunities offered through licensed recruitment firms.
Additionally, the government, working with civil society organisations, conducted public awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable groups, particularly those seeking employment abroad.
The initiatives also included a campaign addressing the growing threat of forced labour linked to online scams.
The report nevertheless underscored the need to address fraudulent recruitment, corruption and alleged official complicity to strengthen Kenya’s response to human trafficking and protect citizens seeking employment overseas.
