Families of Kenyan nationals detained in Ukraine can finally breathe a sigh of relief after Kyiv agreed to assist in the repatriation of Kenyans captured or detained in areas affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The breakthrough came on Friday after a meeting between Ukraine’s Ambassador Yurii Tokar and Foreign Affairs deputy director general for Europe and the Commonwealth Judy Njau.
The State Department for Foreign Affairs said the talks included Ukraine’s consular assistance and the repatriation of the nationals under the custody of Ukrainian authorities.
Amb Tokar told the Star his embassy is in communication with the relevant authorities and all actions are being coordinated through official diplomatic channels.
“At this stage, I am not in a position to share
specific details, but once the process advances and verified information
becomes available, it will be communicated through the appropriate official
sources,” the envoy said.
The talks also covered wider bilateral issues, such as educational
partnerships, food security and consular cooperation.
The development follows a meeting between Foreign Affairs PS
Korir Sing’oei and Amb Tokar on October 6.
During the meeting, Sing’oei said the government is engaging Ukrainian authorities to assist its citizens.
“Following recent reports of Kenyan nationals captured by
Ukrainian forces while on the frontline, I sought Amb Tokar’s support
for the Kenyans to access consular assistance and for their repatriation back
to the country,” the PS said.
“I assured him that most Kenyans involved were victims of manipulation and trafficking, and the government was doing everything possible to protect vulnerable Kenyans.”
An example is that of athlete Evans Kibet, 36, who claimed to have been duped and recruited
into the Russian army.
Kibet was
captured by Ukraine’s 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade in the Kharkiv Oblast after
surrendering. He said he was duped into signing up for the Russian army
after signing some documents that were written in Russian.
Families have, in the recent past come forward to report their relatives travelled to Russia and
were conscripted to the war, and have not heard from them for months. Many are
feared dead, injured or ended up as prisoners of war.
Jane Wangari,
for instance, told the Star that her son left the country on August 8 for Russia
to work as a guard.
However, on
reaching there, Reuben Ndung’u was taken to a one-week training and on to the
frontline. He had been in touch with the sister but they have since lost contact.
On October 27, Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi in a statement, said the Kenyan government had also engaged with Russia in a bid to secure the
release of Kenyans in distress and ensure their safe passage home.
“The Kenya and Russia officials held a crucial meeting that took
place last month,” Mudavadi said.
""They addressed the need for the Kenyans, including those detained in various military camps across the Russian Federation, to be facilitated to reach Kenya's mission in Moscow, from where it will be easier for the government to organise their shipment back home."
He added that the Kenyan mission in Moscow is trying to establish an
accurate number of Kenyans detained in various military bases or camps.
