Musalia Mudavadi, the foreign minister of Kenya, has travelled to Moscow to address concerns over Kenyans allegedly recruited to fight in the Russia–Ukraine War.
During the visit, Mudavadi is expected to hold talks with senior Russian officials, including Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister. The discussions will focus on securing the safe repatriation of Kenyan nationals who reportedly travelled to Russia for what they believed were well-paid civilian jobs but later found themselves on the front lines of the conflict.
According to Kenyan intelligence estimates cited in reports, more than 1,000 Kenyans may have died after becoming involved in the war.
The Kenyan government says it wants to establish a safe process for returning affected citizens and ensuring that Kenyans working abroad have secure employment and dignified living conditions.
Officials also hope to negotiate arrangements that would allow Kenyans easier access to legitimate employment opportunities in Russia.
The issue of foreign nationals caught in the conflict has affected other countries as well. In February, South Africa successfully repatriated 15 of its citizens who had requested help after becoming trapped in fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Source: TRT Afrika
