Russia has agreed to facilitate compensation for Kenyans recruited into its military, following high-level talks between President William Ruto and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow.
In a statement released on Friday, October 30, Ruto announced that Kenya had appointed a Defence Attaché at its embassy in Moscow to coordinate the process of helping affected Kenyans return home safely and pursue compensation.
According to the President, the official will work directly with Russia’s Ministry of Defence to handle compensation claims and facilitate the safe return of Kenyans who travelled to Russia for military-related purposes.
The announcement followed a meeting between Ruto and Putin at the Kremlin after the conclusion of the Russia-Africa Summit.
Ruto also revealed that Russia had agreed to stop recruiting Kenyan nationals into its military after the country was categorised as a non-source country for military recruitment.
The development comes amid growing concerns over Kenyans who travelled to Russia after reportedly receiving promises of lucrative civilian employment opportunities but later found themselves enlisted in the military and deployed to fight in Ukraine.
An investigation by Journalists for Justice published on October 29 identified at least 841 Kenyans recruited into Russia’s armed forces, with at least 76 confirmed deaths by the end of June 2026.
Some families have been left struggling to establish the whereabouts of their relatives, while others are still seeking answers following reports of deaths, injuries and disappearances on the battlefield.
Beyond the military recruitment crisis, Ruto and Putin also discussed expanding educational opportunities for Kenyan students.
The Russian government is expected to increase scholarships offered to Kenyans from 70 to 300, covering fields such as healthcare, artificial intelligence, technology, aviation and cybersecurity.
The two leaders further discussed a proposed bilateral labour agreement that would establish formal employment opportunities for Kenyans seeking to work in Russia.
Their meeting also covered economic cooperation, transport, diplomatic training and the expansion of the United Nations Office in Nairobi.
The latest announcement is expected to attract attention from families whose relatives were recruited into the Russian military, particularly those hoping to receive compensation and assistance in bringing their loved ones back home.
However, Ruto did not disclose the specific compensation amounts, eligibility requirements or timelines for processing the claims.