A family from Mukhunga Village in Budalang’i Constituency, Busia County, is appealing to the Kenyan Government to intervene and facilitate the repatriation of the body of their 38-year-old son, Oscar Agola, who was killed in Russia.
The deceased reportedly left Kenya and travelled to Russia, where he was recruited as a soldier. He was killed while fighting in the Russia–Ukraine war in June last year.
The family says it is unable to transport the body back home for burial due to financial constraints and is now calling on the government to step in and assist.
Led by the deceased’s father, Charles Mutoka, the family is pleading for their son’s body to be returned home so that he can be accorded a proper burial in accordance with the community’s cultural traditions.
They have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as silence from both the Kenyan and Russian governments following their son’s death.
The family has also appealed directly to President William Ruto and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently address the matter and help ease the pain and suffering they are enduring after losing their only son.
According to community elders, there is growing concern that the body may never be buried at home unless urgent action is taken.
They are urging both the Kenyan and Russian governments to make every effort to ensure the remains are repatriated and laid to rest in his homeland.
Speaking at the deceased’s home in Mukhunga Village, Bernard Kapila, a church leader, criticized the broader issue of Kenyans seeking employment abroad, calling on the government to take responsibility for the tragedies that befall citizens working in foreign countries.
Human rights activists from Vocal Africa have threatened to stage demonstrations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and outside the Russian Embassy in Kenya, demanding justice for the affected family.
The activists have accused the government of facilitating the migration of young people abroad under the pretext of employment, only to abandon them when they face disasters such as the death of Oscar Agola.
