Grief and anger spilled onto the streets of Nairobi on Thursday as families of Kenyan men recruited to fight for Russia gathered outside Parliament, demanding an immediate halt to a “deadly deception”.

Relatives say their sons and brothers were promised jobs in Russia, only to find themselves deployed to the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Clutching framed photographs, they marched through the capital chanting for the government to intervene and bring their loved ones home.

At the center of the protest was a large white banner splashed with red lettering that read: “KENYANS AND FAMILIES DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THEIR SONS RECRUITED INTO RUSSIA MILITARY.”

READ ALSO: Kenya arrests suspected middleman in Russia-Ukraine war recruitment ring

The Kenyan government disclosed last month that more than 1,000 citizens had been enlisted to fight on Russia’s side in Ukraine. Officials said at least 89 remain on the battlefield. One death has been confirmed. Thirty-nine Kenyans have been hospitalized, 28 are listed as missing in action and others have since returned home.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told The Associated Press he intends to travel to Russia to pursue what he described as a “diplomatic approach to rein in” those who are “taking advantage of anyone in this misadventure.”

He added that the country is also working to secure the release of Kenyans captured in Ukraine and to facilitate the return of those still in Russia.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Kenya, Yurii Tokar, told the AP on Wednesday that one Kenyan is currently being held as a prisoner of war in Ukraine. He noted that POWs are generally freed at the conclusion of hostilities under the Geneva Conventions, although Kyiv and Moscow have exchanged hundreds of soldiers and civilians at various points during the four-year conflict.

READ ALSO: Report claims 1,000 Kenyans lured with job promises, deployed to Russia’s war in Ukraine

The crisis is deeply personal for Lamech Mboga. His brother traveled to Russia in August 2025. Mboga told the AP he believes his sibling is now being held in Ukraine as a POW and appealed publicly for his release.

The controversy has also reached the floor of Parliament. An intelligence report presented last month by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah alleged collusion between Kenyan and Russian officials and recruitment agencies to funnel young Kenyans into combat roles.

In their petition to lawmakers, families called for those responsible to face prosecution for “human trafficking, forced recruitment, and possible violations of international humanitarian and labor laws.”

So far, two Kenyans have been charged with human trafficking in connection with the recruitment scheme.

READ ALSO: Kenyan family demands UK extradite soldier suspect in 2012 death of Agnes Wanjiru