NAIROBI, Kenya- The government has records of 354 Kenyans involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including 84 reported killed or missing in action, 77 on the frontlines and five being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi gave the figures in a response to Parliament on a petition concerning Kenyans recruited into the Russian military and those detained in Ukraine.
He said the update included information received from Kenya’s Embassy in Vienna on October 7, after the Ministry had submitted its initial written response.
The government’s records list 38 Kenyans in military camps, 52 whose locations are unknown or unclassified and 34 who are hospitalized.
A further 62 have been repatriated, while one is listed as detained and another as having completed a military contract.
The figures combine several different statuses, including those still in Russia, those returned to Kenya and those held in Ukraine.
The ministry said families should contact the State Department for Diaspora Affairs as soon as communication with relatives is lost.
Cases reported by families are referred to Kenya’s missions for verification.
Russia says enlistment has stopped
Mudavadi said Kenya’s March 2026 diplomatic engagement with Russia resulted in Kenyan nationals being placed on a Russian “Stop List” intended to prevent further enlistment into the military operation.
“The Embassy of Kenya in Moscow has since confirmed that no additional Kenyan nationals have been enlisted in the Special Military Operation following the implementation of the Stop List,” he told the committee.
However, he said Russian authorities had advised that requests to end military contracts are considered individually by commanders of the relevant military units.
He also said Russia’s Defence Ministry had told Kenya it could not pay to repatriate the remains of Kenyan nationals who died.
Kenya is continuing to engage Russian authorities and families on burial, cremation or repatriation arrangements.
Five Kenyans held as prisoners of war
Ukraine has informed Kenya that five Kenyans are being held as prisoners of war.
The government said the Kenyan Honorary Consul visited the “Zakhid 1” prisoner-of-war camp and reported that detainees had access to medical services and were being held in humane conditions.
Mudavadi said Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence had also reported that the remains of four Kenyans were in Ukrainian custody.
The government is pursuing the welfare, release and repatriation of the detainees through diplomatic channels, including engagement with Ukraine and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
President William Ruto has also spoken by telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the matter, Mudavadi said.
The government is considering proposing that Kenyans held as prisoners of war be treated as possible victims of human trafficking during repatriation negotiations.
Mudavadi said many had reported being recruited with false promises of employment, and that their circumstances could meet the definition of trafficking under the Palermo Protocol.
The proposal is intended to help them access assistance, but the statement did not say Ukraine had accepted it or that their prisoner-of-war status had changed.
Government says family support continues
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs has documented cases reported by relatives, shared official updates and helped families provide next-of-kin information.
Mudavadi said it had also offered psychosocial support, advised families on compensation processes and explained procedures for handling and repatriating remains.
The government is also working to accredit a Kenyan ambassador to Ukraine. Mudavadi said Kyiv had granted agrément, with Nairobi expected to issue the Letters of Credence.
The ministry said it would continue updating families and Parliament as further information is verified.
