NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has sharply criticised the Government for what he described as a lack of urgent action regarding the apparent recruitment and deployment of Kenyan youth into the Russia–Ukraine war.
Muturi’s statement comes amid mounting concerns backed by intelligence reports indicating that more than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight in the conflict, many allegedly misled by promises of employment overseas.
In a statement, Muturi called on the government to stop issuing “public relations responses” and take concrete steps to ensure the safe return of affected Kenyans.
“Kenyans do not need public relations responses. They need action. They need leadership. They need their children brought home,” he said.
Muturi expressed frustration that ministries entrusted with safeguarding Kenyan citizens, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Labour, had not yet provided clear answers on the scope of the issue.
“The first responsibility of the State is clear: secure the safe return of those who are alive and ensure that those who have tragically lost their lives are brought home with dignity and honour,” he stated.
He also warned that ongoing investigations should not preclude immediate action to repatriate Kenyans still believed to be in the conflict zone.
Muturi urged transparency, asking authorities to clarify who authorised or permitted the recruitment, how many Kenyans are currently in the war, and what specific measures are being taken to bring them home.
Muturi’s call for accountability echoes earlier concerns he raised about the trafficking and exploitation of Kenyan youth, particularly those seeking employment abroad who may be lured into fighting in foreign wars under false pretences.
In an earlier statement, he condemned reports of young Kenyans losing their lives in the conflict, describing the situation as both “tragic and unacceptable.”
The urgency in Muturi’s statement aligns with intelligence presented to Parliament by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which revealed that many Kenyans had been recruited through rogue networks operating across multiple countries.
According to NIS, recruits were often promised lucrative pay, bonuses and even foreign citizenship before being redirected to military training and deployment in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Muturi warned that if the government continued to defer action in favour of prolonged investigations, the costs would continue to mount for families already grappling with grief and uncertainty.
He emphasised that, once citizens are accounted for and returned, those responsible, whether private actors or public officials, should face full accountability under the law.
Experts have noted that international frameworks, such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 2331 (2016), address trafficking and exploitation in armed conflicts, underscoring the responsibility of states to protect their citizens.
