Police in Kenya have arrested a man at the center of a scheme that lured Kenyans with promises of skilled jobs in Russia, only for them to end up on the front lines in Ukraine.
Festus Omwamba was taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking in Moyale, a northern town near the Ethiopian border, and is set to be transferred to Nairobi. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said Omwamba had been on the run after returning from Russia.
Three Kenyan recruits who spoke to The Associated Press (AP) identified Omwamba. He disappeared after families began protesting the mysterious disappearances and deaths of their relatives in Ukraine.
Family members of Kenyans who joined the Russian army in Ukraine hold photos of their loved ones during a protest calling on the government to urgently repatriate them and their remains, Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)
The Kenyan government last week said more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine. At least 89 were still on the front lines, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing in action, and others had returned home. At least one person was confirmed dead.
