Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) and Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech has revealed that he will be leading a delegation to Moscow next week to facilitate safe return of Kenyans who were allegedly recruited illegally to participate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Citizen TV’s Day Break show, MP Koech disclosed that Parliament had mandated him together with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to engage directly with Russian officials.

He noted that they will hold meetings on Monday (March 16) and Tuesday (March 17) following concerns over the covert recruitment of Kenyan citizens to participate in the war in Ukraine.

“Parliament has mandated me, together with the Prime Cabinet Secretary, this weekend to travel to Russia to meet with the Government of Russia to ensure that our young men who were illegally recruited are repatriated back to the country. We are having meetings on Monday and Tuesday next week in Moscow,” Koech disclosed.

This comes as several other African countries have also reported cases of their citizens being recruited to fight in the Ukraine war.

In February, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, recently visited Kyiv to negotiate for the release of Ghanaian citizens captured while fighting for Russia. He stated that around 272 Ghanaians were lured into the conflict by trafficking networks since 2022, with 55 killed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa also confirmed that his government is working closely with Russia, to secure the return of South Africans participating in the war.

“President Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.