CNN journalist Larry Madowo has issued a strong warning to Kenyan youth considering joining the Russian military, following reports that several young Kenyans were illegally recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, with some reportedly killed on the frontlines.
In a social media post, Madowo stated he has received “hundreds of messages asking to connect them to the Russian army,” urging young Kenyans to stop seeking his help.
He also addressed messages from families desperate for information about relatives who have died in the conflict.
“I’ve received hundreds of messages from families whose sons were killed in the Ukraine war but are unable to retrieve their bodies. I’m afraid I can’t help with that either,” he wrote.
The warnings highlight a worrying trend of illegal recruitment, often facilitated through social media platforms targeting vulnerable youth with promises of adventure, employment, or financial gain.
In one comment, a social media user wrote in Swahili, expressing frustration after being unable to reach Madowo and requesting connections to any military or extremist groups in Kenya or Tanzania.
Experts caution that such recruitment is illegal and carries severe risks, including death and prosecution under national and international law.
Kenyan authorities have repeatedly warned citizens against engaging in foreign conflicts, noting that many young recruits are lured without full understanding of the dangers.
Madowo’s message reveals the consequences of venturing into conflict zones abroad and the inability of families to recover loved ones lost in these wars.
He urged parents and youth to remain vigilant, avoid illegal recruitment channels, and seek safe and legal pathways for employment or international travel.
“No message I receive can change the reality on the ground in Ukraine,” Madowo stressed, reinforcing that the war remains perilous and far from any promises of opportunity.