Kenya arrests man accused of recruiting for Russia's Ukraine war

Kenyan authorities have arrested and charged a man, Festus Omwamba, with human trafficking related to the recruitment of citizens to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine. The case emerged after reports surfaced of over 1,000 Kenyans being recruited under false pretenses. The arrests followed an intelligence report detailing the trafficking of citizens and subsequent protests from families concerning the disappearances and deaths of relatives in the conflict. Omwamba is accused of attempting to hire and traffic 25 individuals specifically for fighting in the war. Police confirmed an arrest in an Ethiopian border town connected to the alleged scheme, which initially lured Kenyans with promises of skilled work in Russia. The government revealed the scale of the recruitment last week, prompting the investigation and charges.