Russia has agreed to stop recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight with its army in Ukraine, Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said on Monday, March 17, 2026. The announcement followed talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
"We have now agreed that Kenyans shall not be enlisted," Mudavadi stated, confirming the diplomatic resolution to an issue that had raised significant concern in Nairobi. The Kenyan government had previously expressed alarm over reports of its nationals being recruited for the conflict.
The agreement marks a step in addressing foreign fighter recruitment in the ongoing war. No specific details were provided on the mechanisms for enforcing the halt or the status of any Kenyans already recruited.
