Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has identified 33-year-old Festus Arasa Omwamba as the man at the centre of an alleged recruitment scheme that reportedly lured young Kenyans with promises of lucrative overseas jobs only for some to end up on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Omwamba is accused of operating through his company, Global Face Human Resources Ltd, advertising well-paying civilian jobs in Russia, the UAE and Turkey, with some recruits allegedly promised signing bonuses of up to Sh1.2 million.
Investigators claim that upon arrival abroad, several recruits were forced to join the Russian military and deployed to fight in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that some Kenyans have returned home with serious injuries, while others remain unaccounted for.
Authorities have since listed Omwamba among the country’s most wanted suspects and issued a stop order to prevent him from leaving Russia.
The case is set for hearing on March 26.
Omwamba has denied the allegations, maintaining that he works in Russia as a cleaning company supervisor and plans to return to Kenya in mid-March.
