Kenya’s security agencies have unravelled a mysterious human trafficking syndicate which has been recruiting Kenyans in the guise of work in Moscow, Russia but end up joining Russian military where they are deployed to the war front with Ukraine.
This success was borne out of a multi-agency approach where officers drawn across security agencies focused on the vice after it was established Kenyans were being duped to pay huge amounts to secure employment in Russia.
According to the DCI, some Kenyans who end up fighting with Ukraine forces are reported to be killed and those who survive are maimed, bear wounds of torture or psychologically disturbed.
“It is reported that there are two Kenyans who returned to the country recently from Russia and one is admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“On Wednesday 24th September, 2025 at 2000hours, Transnational Organised Crime Unit of the DCI led other security officers in an intelligence led operation at Great wall apartments in Athi River where 21 Kenyans were found housed awaiting processing to Russia,” DCI reported.
The officers arrested Edward Kamau Gituku who was coordinating processing of the victims to travel to Russia on diverse dates in September and October for enlistment in the military under the guise of lucrative jobs abroad.
The victims disclosed to the officers that they had signed an agreement with an unnamed overseas employment support agency binding them to pay Ksh 1.65 million – 2.31 million for visas, travel, accommodation and logistics.
Those who fail to pay within 35 days are charged a 1% daily penalty. Some of the victims indicated that they had already paid deposits ranging from Ksh 50K to 100K upon being promised a salary of two hundred thousand Kenya Shillings.
During the raid, the officers recovered documents suggesting high level recruitment activities among them a one-year partnership between Global Face Human Resource Ltd with Ecopillars Manpower Ltd to recruit, screen and deploy Kenyans to Russia.
Also recovered were cheque books, travel documents and job offer letters from different countries.
A preliminary investigation points to a well-coordinated recruitment scan with some of the main players reported to be senior people in the society.
The victims who are still being interviewed are expected to shed more light to the vice.
