Overview
- Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced in Moscow that Kenya and Russia agreed Kenyans "shall not be enlisted" through Russia’s Defense Ministry, saying there will be no further enlistment.
- Sergey Lavrov did not restate a moratorium, asserting foreign participation was voluntary under Russian law, while noting cases flagged by Kenya are being reviewed and consular requests are forwarded to the defense ministry.
- Kenya says consular assistance and a safe repatriation process are being organized, and authorities report 27 Kenyans have already been brought home.
- Kenyan intelligence estimates more than 1,000 nationals were recruited to fight for Russia, as NGOs like Inpact document deceptive networks and local media report deaths and disappearances among those sent to the front.
- Both sides discussed a labor-migration agreement and an intergovernmental economic commission alongside wider cooperation in trade, education and other sectors.