Kenya and Russia have made a new agreement. It offers amnesty to Kenyan citizens. These citizens were wrongly hired to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The agreement was made during a visit by Kenya's Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, to Moscow. This agreement will help Kenyans get out of a dangerous situation. It will also stop them from being used unfairly in the future.
Many Kenyans were tricked into fighting. They were promised good jobs. These recruitment networks started about six months ago. Some Kenyans did not speak Russian well. They were forced to sign papers they did not understand. This is against Kenyan law. About 252 Kenyans may have been forced to join the army.
After Minister Mudavadi's visit, Russia promised to help stop illegal recruitment. They will also fight human trafficking. Russia will put Kenya on a "stop list." This means no more Kenyans will be hired for their army. This plan will break down the networks that tricked people. It will protect Kenyans from being exploited again.
The amnesty is very important for those fighting now. Kenyans who do not want to fight will be helped to return home. This offers safety to people in a bad situation. So far, 44 Kenyans have returned home safely. However, 11 are still missing. Some might be dead. Thirty-eight Kenyans are in Russian hospitals. Sixteen Kenyans are still fighting in the conflict.
This agreement is good news for the Kenyans who return. They will not be punished. Kenyan law usually means a prison sentence for fighting for other countries. This agreement shows how seriously Kenya views this problem. Both countries want to follow rules about human trafficking. This will make things safer for Kenyans.