The Kenyan government has issued a clear statement that explains its current ability to help citizens who illegally entered Russia and now face dangerous situations because they cannot return home and face forced military recruitment.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs issued the statement because public anxiety has grown after reports showed that dishonest agents have been targeting Kenyans to provide them with fake overseas job opportunities.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu announced in a Sunday press release that government operations face limitations because Russian Federation laws and administrative procedures operate. The ministry issued a warning that stated that Kenyans who use tourist visas or irregular travel methods to work will face delays and restrictions regarding consular services, which include repatriation assistance.
Affected individuals or their families reported to officials that they had been deceived with false claims about high-paying jobs, which included lucrative employment and residency rights that would not become real after their arrival. Some individuals reported that their passports were taken from them while they faced restrictions that made it difficult to obtain support from the embassy.
The embassy statement specifically cautioned citizens against relying on social media recruitment networks and unlicensed intermediaries, urging would-be travellers to verify opportunities with the Ministry of Labour, the Foreign Affairs ministry, or the Kenyan mission before departing.
The activists, through their public statements, claim that the Kenyan embassy in Moscow failed to assist citizens who were stranded, while they also assert that some people were forced to join Russian armed forces, which included reports of deaths among those who were recruited.
The government statement did not confirm these fatality claims, but it showed that officials were working with Russian and regional authorities to stop fraudulent recruitment networks that targeted Kenyans who were working abroad.
The officials said that all Kenyans who reside in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or Kazakhstan must register at their closest Kenyan diplomatic mission so that they can receive immediate consular assistance.
The authorities request citizens and their families to verify through established employment channels, which will help them avoid becoming victims of exploitation while they are abroad.
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