By R, KNA
The government is ramping up diplomatic and consular initiatives to evacuate and safely bring back hundreds of young Kenyans stranded abroad, especially in Russia amid the ongoing Russia- Ukraine war.
Speaking during a prize-giving day event at Escriva Academy in Makupa, Mombasa, Labor and Skills Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is leading aggressive repatriation efforts for those lured abroad through fraudulent means and now trapped in dangerous conditions.
The statement comes as a National Intelligence Service (NIS) report reveals over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited, often under false pretenses of legitimate jobs, into Russia’s military operations, with many ending up on the front lines.
Recent figures indicate 89 are actively deployed in combat zones, 39 are hospitalized, 28 are missing in action, and at least one has been confirmed dead. The government has already successfully repatriated around 27 to 30 individuals in recent months, providing them with psychological support and reintegration assistance upon return.
Mwadime highlighted the tragic misuse of visitor visas by vulnerable youths seeking overseas opportunities.
“Some of these young people went to Russia and found themselves in a war zone, having used inappropriate means that have not been approved by the government,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate what has been happening to young Kenyans in Russia and some other countries abroad.”
He stressed that a visitor’s visa cannot be converted into a work permit; it’s not possible. You have to apply for the work permit in your home country before moving to the destination country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with Kenyan embassies particularly in Moscow, is prioritizing the safe evacuation of those stranded.
High-level diplomatic engagements are underway, including meetings with Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors in Nairobi, focus on securing humanitarian corridors, consular access, prisoner-of-war releases, and repatriation protocols for the injured and deceased.
Mwadime outlined complementary domestic measures to prevent further incidents. The government has deregistered numerous fake recruitment agencies, reducing their numbers by 50 per cent through rigorous vetting involving security agencies.
“Whenever we find them engaging in wrongful activities we deregister them immediately,” he stated.
Private Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) now require directors to be graduates and must verify job offers via Kenyan embassies abroad before posting on the National Employment Authority portal.
“There is no way the National Employment Authority will upload a job opportunity on their portal before confirming with our embassies abroad,” he added.
Airport labor desks at Jomo Kenyatta International and Moi International now verify proper attestation for outbound travelers. The deployment of labor attaches will enable ongoing monitoring and rapid intervention for Kenyans abroad facing crises.
“We are also deploying labor attaches who will be able to follow up on these young people and find out where they are working, so that in case they find themselves in a difficult situation, we can address it immediately,” Mwadime explained.
The NIS report is expected to enhance accountability, with Mwadime vowing prosecutions.
“The report released by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) regarding leaders who are conning young people to go abroad will be used to arrest those government leaders who are involving themselves in such practices and take them to court. We cannot play with the lives of Kenyans,” he asserted.
Beyond repatriation, Mwadime linked the crisis to broader youth employability challenges, announcing partnerships with the Ministry of Education to guide career paths from primary school using tools like the Kenya Labour Market Integrated System and a career navigator.
He also urged youths to pursue short-term TVET courses for safer local and verified international opportunities.