Zelensky
President William Ruto has shared details of a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, revealing that the two leaders discussed the plight of young Kenyans who have been deceived into joining the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ruto said he raised concerns over reports that some Kenyan youths had been recruited under false pretenses and taken to fight in the ongoing conflict.
He explained that both governments agreed to intensify awareness campaigns warning against such dangerous schemes targeting job seekers.
“We expressed concern over young Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine, and agreed to raise awareness of the dangers of such ventures,” Ruto said on X.
He added that he had appealed to President Zelenskyy to facilitate the release of any Kenyan currently held in Ukrainian custody.
“I am grateful to His Excellency for acceding to my appeal,” he noted.
The Kenyan president also commended Ukraine’s upcoming Food Summit, scheduled for later this month, describing it as an important platform for global cooperation on food security.
“I also commended President Zelenskyy for the Ukraine Food Summit his country is set to host later this month,” Ruto said.
Investigations by international outlets have previously revealed that some Kenyans were tricked into traveling to Russia with promises of lucrative employment, only to end up enlisted as fighters in the war.
The Kenyan government has condemned the practice, warning citizens against foreign recruitment drives that endanger their lives.
Ruto’s direct engagement with President Zelenskyy reveals Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to protect its nationals and prevent further exploitation of young people.
His appeal also marks a wider call for cooperation between African and European governments to curb illegal recruitment linked to foreign wars.