President William Ruto on Thursday, November 6, held a crucial phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Kenya and Ukraine while addressing growing concerns over reports that young Kenyans are being illegally recruited to join the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
According to a statement from State House, the two leaders discussed the worrying trend of Kenyans being lured into fighting abroad under false promises of employment or better opportunities.
President Ruto emphasized the need for both governments to work closely in raising awareness about the dangers and consequences of such illegal recruitment schemes.
During the call, President Ruto specifically requested President Zelenskyy to assist in securing the release of any Kenyan nationals currently held by Ukrainian authorities.
“I have requested President Zelenskyy to facilitate the release of any Kenyan in Ukrainian custody. I am grateful to His Excellency for acceding to my appeal,” Ruto said after the conversation.
President Ruto also took the opportunity to commend his Ukrainian counterpart for organizing the upcoming Food Summit, which is expected to take place in Ukraine later this month.
The summit aims to promote global food security and strengthen partnerships among participating nations.
The conversation between the two leaders comes at a time when there have been mounting concerns over the detention of several Kenyans in Ukraine, allegedly captured while fighting on the Russian side of the conflict. Reports indicate that some of these individuals were misled or trafficked into the war zone.
One such case is that of Evans Kibet, a 44-year-old Kenyan who was reportedly arrested by the Ukrainian army while fighting for Russia near the Russia-Ukraine border. In a video shared in September, Kibet claimed that he was deceived into joining the Russian military after travelling to Russia as an athlete.
“I ended up in Russia without knowing that I had been enlisted in the Russian army. I had never served before. I did not go to Russia for that,” Kibet said, expressing regret over how his life took an unexpected turn.
In response to these alarming reports, President Ruto’s administration initiated diplomatic efforts in October to secure the release of detained Kenyans.
The move followed a meeting between Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’Oei and Ukrainian Ambassador to Kenya Yurii Tokar, where the two officials discussed consular assistance for affected Kenyans and possible repatriation arrangements.
The Kenyan government has since vowed to continue working closely with both Ukrainian and Russian authorities to ensure that no more citizens are caught up in the ongoing conflict.
President Ruto also reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting Kenyan nationals abroad and raising awareness about human trafficking and illegal foreign recruitment targeting job seekers and athletes.
The conversation between Ruto and Zelenskyy is seen as a significant step toward addressing these humanitarian and diplomatic challenges while reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to peace and the welfare of its citizens both at home and overseas.
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