Russia Bans Recruitment Of Kenyans As Mercenaries In Ukraine War

By Our Correspondent

Russia has banned the recruitment of mercenaries from Kenya and several other countries for its war against Ukraine, according to a report published by a Russian newspaper amid mounting diplomatic pressure from African governments.

The publication said Moscow had circulated a list of countries whose citizens should no longer be enlisted by Russian defence contractors. Kenya is named among African states described as key sources of foreign fighters.

The move follows complaints by several African governments over the alleged recruitment of their nationals by shadowy Russian-linked contractors operating outside formal military structures.

The Russian paper claimed Kenya had emerged as one of the leading suppliers of mercenaries fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine, a characterisation that may trigger diplomatic concern in Nairobi.

The report also singled out British national Ben Stimson as a prominent recruiter and trainer of fighters from Africa and other English-speaking countries.

Stimson, a former British soldier, fled to Russia in 2015 following the annexation of Crimea and joined a pro-Russian militia group. He was arrested in 2017 at Manchester Airport while attempting to re-enter the United Kingdom.

He was charged with terrorism based on a video interview he gave to the BBC in 2015 while in Russia, in which he appeared holding an assault rifle and expressed support for Russian actions.

Although his face was not shown and he was not named in the broadcast, British intelligence reportedly identified him through his distinctive Lancashire accent. He was later convicted and sentenced by a UK court.

Stimson was released early on parole in 2023 under strict bail conditions, including regular police reporting and the use of a GPS tracking device to monitor his movements.

The newspaper reported that in January he announced he would no longer recruit fighters from Nigeria and Kenya, days before Moscow formalised a broader ban covering more than 30 countries.

“He said he would stop recruiting mercenaries from Nigeria and Kenya,” the Russian paper reported, without detailing whether the directive came from Russian authorities or private contractors.

British tabloid reports earlier this month speculated that Stimson may have been killed after a lull in his social media activity. However, his Facebook account has remained active, with recent battlefield-related posts.

The reported ban covers several African countries including Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Africa.

Asian states listed include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Vietnam, Israel, India, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Laos, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Türkiye and Sri Lanka.

The list also names Cuba and Nicaragua in North America, and Brazil and Venezuela in South America.

Neither the Russian government nor Kenyan authorities have publicly confirmed the reported ban. It remains unclear how many Kenyans have travelled to fight in Ukraine or under what terms they were enlisted.

The development comes as scrutiny grows over the role of foreign fighters in the conflict, now entering its fourth year, and the legal and diplomatic consequences for countries whose citizens take part.