Families march to Parliament over Kenyans recruited into Russian military

They claimed some Kenyans have been taken captive and are held in prisons in Ukraine, while others have died in Russia. They want all of them brought home.

This comes as Festus Omwamba, a key suspect, was returned to court to determine whether he will be released on bail.

Clutching photographs of their loved ones, families walked from City Hall Road to Parliament. Escorted by police, they submitted their petition inside the chambers.

Their demands were explicit: verify the status of Kenyans in Russia, confirm those detained, injured or deceased, facilitate safe repatriation, and immediately suspend any further recruitment of Kenyans to foreign military service.

"Niko hapa kwa street nakulilia chukua hatua utuletee watoto wetu, wakiwa wamekufa wamelemaa tuletee tu," said the mother of Charles Waithaka.

Anne Mburu, wife of John Mburu, travelled from Eldoret to join others in the search for justice.

"Ilikuwa October 28th, ndio akaniambia officially tumeingia kwa kichaka and this is a mission and it's a war, since then hatujaongea na yeye na sijui kwenye ako," Anne stated. 

Among them was Monica Nerima from Budalangi. Her brother, former KDF officer Oscar Agola Mtoka, left for Russia in June 2025.

Weeks later, the family received a chilling message from a Russian commander, Oscar was dead, his body lying in a mortuary.

"The first week of the second week he communicated to us and told us that indeed my brother was actually in a morgue in Rostov-on-Don. We happened to get the number of that commandant and the information that he gave us in that statement. We again wrote emails to the diaspora and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," said Monica Nerima, sister of Oscar Agola Mtoka.

Families say the silence from the Kenyan government has deepened their grief. They want Parliament to act and hold accountable those facilitating the recruitment of citizens in foreign wars.

"When you have over 1,000 Kenyans in the Russian military, meaning they are now mercenaries, that person is a threat to our homeland security. What is Mr. Noordin Haji doing when Kenyans are getting militarised by a foreign body," said Fredrick Ojiro, activist, Vocal Afrika.

They say many of their kin did not get to benefit from the pay initially promised as part of the recruitment.

"Zile accounts walipewa zilikuwa hacked. Yeye mwenyewe aliniambia accounts zilikuwa hacked so hakuna kitu yoyote alituma. It's so hard each and every day unaamka asubuhi na watoto wanakuuliza ako wapi baba, I don't have answers," said Anne Mburu, wife of John Mburu.

Meanwhile, Festus Omwamba, the main suspect in the recruitment fiasco, appeared at the Kahawa Law Courts for a bail hearing.

However, he will remain in remand until a probation officer delivers a report within 14 days, or earlier, to identify his living address.