Another Kenyan killed in Russia-Ukraine war, family seeks help to repatriate body

A family from Timboroa in Baringo County is seeking help to repatriate the body of their kin, who reportedly died in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

25-year-old Kevin Kang’u travelled to Russia in September last year under a student Visa, after he reportedly got a scholarship to study in the foreign nation.

Their call comes days after an intelligence report said that 1,000 Kenyans were recruited into the Russian military in the ongoing war, under the lure of jobs.

Jacob Njihia, Kevin’s father, said: “Mail ilikuja inasema ako successful kama bado ako interested, akajibu akasema ako interested…akaambiwa aende after two weeks.”

The family says Kevin was required to undergo military training before beginning classes. For about two months, these pictures were a comfort to his family before the line went cold on October 28.

Two months later, the family received news that Kevin died in December, while battling on the frontline in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“Nikapata courage nikamuuliza sasa kama imeenda hivyo mwili nitapata namna gani ama ikienda hivo mwili nitapata namna gani, kijana akaniambia frontline ni kubaya na kupata mwili ni ngumu huko ni marisasi usiku na mchana hivyo ata recovery team kuingia huko kupata mwili ni ngumu,” stated Njihia.

Janet Jelagat, Kevin’s mother, said: “Ombi langu kwa serikali na ninaamini sana ni watusaidie mahali wanaweza maana tumefika mwisho na naamini watatusikia na watatushika mkono.”

The family is now holding on to hope that they shall at least get closure by receiving the body and according Kevin a decent burial.

The revelation comes a day after the Russian Embassy in Nairobi denied allegations of its staff being involved in the recruitment of Kenyans to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Embassy termed the claims as “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign,” citing that its staff has never issued Visas to Kenyans who travelled to Russia with the sole purpose of joining the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

However, the mission clarified that Russian law does not prohibit foreign nationals already in Russia from voluntarily enlisting in the Russian Armed Forces, provided that they are legally present in the country and choose to join the conflict.

"It must be understood that the legislation of the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, if they stay in Russia on a legal basis and choose to take part in the battle against the NATO-backed Ukrainian Nazism shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen," the statement read in part.