The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) busted a Machakos-based syndicate accused of luring Kenyans with fake job offers in Moscow, only to coerce them into fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
In a dramatic raid at Great Wall Apartments in Athi River, detectives rescued 21 Kenyans who were being processed for travel and arrested Edward Kamau Gituku, the alleged mastermind behind the human trafficking scheme.
The operation has exposed a chilling network exploiting desperate job seekers, raising alarms about Kenya’s vulnerability to international trafficking rackets.
The syndicate, operating under the guise of legitimate recruitment agencies like Global Face Human Resource Ltd and Ecopillars Manpower Ltd, promised lucrative jobs with monthly salaries of up to Sh200,000.
Victims were required to pay between Sh1.65 million and Sh2.31 million for visas, travel, and logistics, with some depositing Sh50,000 to Sh100,000 upfront. Those unable to pay within 35 days faced a 1% daily penalty, ensnaring them in debt.
Documents seized during the raid revealed a year-long partnership between the firms to recruit and deploy Kenyans to Russia, where they were conscripted into military service.
Two Kenyans recently returned from Russia, with one admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital, bearing physical and psychological scars from the frontlines.
The DCI’s Transnational Organised Crime Unit, backed by a multiagency team, acted on months of surveillance after reports of Kenyans being duped into combat roles.
The case of Evans Kibet, a Kenyan athlete captured by Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv, highlighted the scam’s severity. Kibet, lured by a sports agent, signed Russian documents unknowingly enlisting him in the military.
Public outrage has surged, demanding justice and stricter oversight of recruitment agencies.
“How many more are trapped?” one post read. Authorities suspect influential figures shielded the syndicate, complicating early detection. The DCI is now interviewing victims to unmask the wider network, with calls for the Ministry of Labour to regulate overseas job agencies more stringently.
This bust shows Kenya’s ongoing battle against human trafficking, with past incidents in Athi River exposing similar schemes targeting Gulf countries.
As investigations deepen, the rescued Kenyans are receiving support, and the DCI vows to pursue all involved to prevent further exploitation.