Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that his country will no longer recruit Kenyan citizens into the Russian military to fight in the Ukraine conflict.
In a statement Moscow issued over the weekend that Kenyans will be exempted from recruitment as combatants in the war following a deal with officials from Nairobi to that effect.
President William Ruto announced the agreement after talks with his Russian counterpart Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday.
The two countries had agreed to designate Kenya as a non-source country for recruitment into the Russian military.
The agreement, which seeks to close recruitment channels that have seen Kenyans enlisted to fight on the Russian side.
This comes after months of diplomatic engagement by Nairobi and repeated warnings by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi over the growing number of Kenyans caught up in the conflict.
The Kenyan president also announced the appointment of a defense attaché at the country’s embassy in Moscow to coordinate with Russia’s Defense Ministry on the return of Kenyans who had travelled to Russia for military purposes.
The defense attaché will also work with Russian authorities to facilitate compensation for affected Kenyans and assist with their safe return, Ruto said.
The agreement comes amid growing concern in Kenya over reports that citizens were recruited to fight for Russia, with some reportedly killed, missing or captured in the conflict.
Kenyan officials have previously said some nationals were lured to Russia with promises of civilian employment before being enlisted into military service.
MG/as/APA