NAIROBI, Kenya — The Cabinet has approved Kenya’s accession to two international anti-mercenary treaties in a significant policy shift aimed at curbing the recruitment of Kenyans into foreign armed conflicts and strengthening the country’s fight against human trafficking.
The decision clears the way for Kenya to accede to the 1989 United Nations Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries and fully operationalise the 1977 Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, alongside proposed amendments to the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act and related legislation.
According to the Cabinet memorandum, the reforms seek to close legal loopholes that have allowed criminal recruitment networks to lure Kenyans into dangerous overseas assignments under false promises of employment.
The move comes amid growing concern over reports that more than 500 Kenyan nationals have allegedly been recruited into the Russian military fighting in the war against Ukraine.
The Government says existing laws have proved inadequate in dealing with individuals and agencies involved in recruiting Kenyans for mercenary activities, prompting the need for stronger domestic legislation backed by international legal instruments.
Beyond mercenary recruitment, the proposed legal reforms will also strengthen efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks that exploit Kenyans by sending them to countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe for forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of criminal activity.
Cabinet noted that although Kenya is already a signatory to the OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, it has not acceded to the corresponding United Nations convention, limiting its ability to cooperate fully with other countries in prosecuting offenders.
By joining both treaties, Kenya will enhance its capacity to investigate, prosecute or extradite individuals involved in the recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries across borders.
The Government said accession to the conventions also reinforces Kenya’s long-standing foreign policy principles of non-interference, non-alignment and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
Officials argue that the growing involvement of Kenyan citizens in foreign conflicts poses diplomatic and security risks while undermining the country’s standing in international peace and security forums.
The Cabinet memorandum warns that continued reports of Kenyans serving as mercenaries abroad could damage the country’s international reputation and create the perception that Kenya tolerates or facilitates mercenary activities.