Kenya said on Monday that more than 200 of its citizens are fighting on Russia's side in the war in Ukraine and that recruitment agencies are still actively working to attract more Kenyans to participate in the conflict, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
Last week, Kiev said more than 1,400 citizens from nearly 30 African countries are in Russian forces in Ukraine, some of whom were recruited through fraud.
Russia is luring Africans into signing contracts that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga described as "tantamount to a death sentence". He called on African authorities to warn their citizens.
"Recruitment efforts in Russia are believed to have expanded to include African nationals, including Kenyans," Kenya's foreign ministry said.
"Over 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian army... recruitment networks are still active in both Kenya and Russia," the statement added.
The Russian embassy in Nairobi did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The Kenyan foreign ministry said the Kenyan embassy in Moscow had recorded injuries among some of the recruits, who were allegedly promised up to $18,000 to cover visas, transport and accommodation costs.
Operation carried out near Nairobi in September, rescued 21 Kenyans from being deported, who the ministry said were being prepared to be sent to fight in the war in Ukraine. One man has been arrested and will face trial in connection with the case.
The ministry said the rescued men were misled about the nature of their work and believed they would be recruited for non-combat tasks such as assembling drones, handling chemicals and painting, Reuters reported.