Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
Felista Njoki hasn’t heard from her husband since last October.
Samuel Mwaura is one of more than 1,000 Kenyans – according to an intelligence report – recruited to fight for Russia in its war on Ukraine.
“He’s a family man, he likes to call.”
Njoki said Mwaura used to call four or five times a day to speak to her and their two children.
“The only message he sent, that was distressing, that’s when he said that it is difficult. To keep in prayers at all times and he said it’s not safe there, that was the last communication that he said, we need to pray for him it is very difficult there.”
On Thursday, Njoki was among relatives of recruited citizens who marched to Kenya’s parliament buildings in the capital Nairobi.
In a petition handed to the Senate, they demanded answers on the fate of their missing loved ones.
“We submit that this matter involves human trafficking, forced recruitment, and violations of international humanitarian and labor laws.”
February’s report from Kenya’s National Intelligence Service described a network of rogue state officials that it said had colluded with trafficking syndicates.
The recruiters targeted former soldiers, police officers and unemployed people, it said, with promises they could earn thousands of dollars in pay and bonuses.
Kenya’s foreign ministry said at the end of February that 27 Kenyans had been rescued after being stranded in Russia.
Kenya’s foreign minister has said he plans to visit Russia this month for talks on the issue.
In February, Ukraine’s foreign minister said more than 1,700 Africans are fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war.
He added that Moscow had used deception to trick them into the conflict.
Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens.
Though the Russian Embassy in Nairobi said that foreign citizens could voluntarily join its armed forces.
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/kenyan-families-demand-answers-on-russian-military-recruitment/
