Lawyer Willis Otieno has sharply criticised the government following Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi’s recent visit to Moscow, terming the trip ineffective as concerns grow over the fate of Kenyans recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war.
Otieno claimed that hundreds of Kenyans were lured into the conflict under unclear arrangements, only to be abandoned once they were deployed.
He argued that the government has failed to provide protection, compensation, or meaningful intervention to support affected citizens and their families.
His remarks follow reports that Mudavadi’s trip secured a commitment from Russian authorities to halt further recruitment of Kenyans into the war.
However, critics say the agreement does little to address the plight of those already involved, with some reportedly dead, injured, or missing.
Otieno alleged that more than 1,000 Kenyans may have been recruited into the conflict, with dozens still actively engaged in combat zones.
He described the situation as a humanitarian concern, accusing authorities of remaining silent while families struggle to trace loved ones or recover bodies.
The lawyer further questioned the government’s diplomatic approach, suggesting that the Moscow visit appeared more symbolic than substantive. According to him, promises made during the trip have not translated into tangible outcomes for affected families.
Russia has maintained that all foreign nationals who joined the war did so voluntarily.
In remarks attributed to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Moscow insisted that individuals who signed military contracts were aware of their decisions, a position that complicates Kenya’s push for accountability.
The controversy places renewed pressure on President William Ruto’s administration to clarify its response and outline measures to protect citizens from illegal recruitment into foreign conflicts.
As families continue to mourn and search for missing relatives, attention is now shifting to whether the government will take stronger diplomatic or legal action to secure the return and welfare of Kenyans caught in the war.