A total of 289 Kenyans have been recruited into Russia's military, with 69 confirmed dead or missing, according to Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, PS Roseline Njogu said government records show that of the 289 Kenyans recruited into what Russia refers to as its special military operations, only 64 have so far returned home.
Njogu said another 69 Kenyans have either been killed or are missing in action, based on information received from the Russian government, while about 153 others are believed to be in military camps, on the front line, or their whereabouts remain unknown.
She noted that Kenya is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reminding citizens that it is illegal under Section 68 of the Penal Code for a Kenyan to enlist in a foreign military without the President's approval.
The PS also disclosed that Kenya has since reached a diplomatic agreement with Russia to halt the recruitment of Kenyan citizens into its military, following discussions between Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Russian officials earlier this year.