Image Credit: Aljazeera
A Kenyan man, Festus Omwamba, has been charged with human trafficking for allegedly recruiting individuals to fight for the Russian army in Ukraine.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) claims he sent 22 youths to Russia under false pretenses as the head of a recruitment agency.
Victims were rescued from an apartment in Athi River last September, while three others who had already left Kenya were found injured on the front lines. Omwamba pleaded not guilty, with his lawyer asserting there is no case against him.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations believes he is part of a broader human trafficking syndicate targeting vulnerable individuals through false job offers in Europe.
Aljazeera reports that he was arrested near the Ethiopian border and is facing significant public scrutiny following NIS reports indicating that over 1,000 Kenyans have joined the Russian army recently. The Russian embassy in Nairobi denied allegations of complicity in trafficking.
Additionally, South Africa reported the deaths of two citizens in Ukraine, further highlighting concerns about recruitment irregularities for foreign fighters.
