Ukraine has announced that it has recovered the bodies of two Kenyan nationals who were reportedly fighting on the side of Russia in the ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region.
The deceased have been identified as Ombwori Denis Bagaka, 39, and Wahome Simon Gititu, 35.
According to a tweet by CNN journalist Larry Madowo, the men were allegedly recruited while working in Qatar for private security companies and later lured into joining Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities said the bodies were recovered during operations in the conflict-hit eastern region.
The incident underscores growing concerns over foreign nationals being recruited into the war through private contractors and informal networks.
In response, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has cautioned Kenyan youths against using visitor visas to seek employment abroad, warning that the practice exposes them to exploitation and scams by rogue recruitment agencies.
Speaking during the NYOTA Capital disbursement event in Malindi, Kilifi County, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, CS Mutua addressed rising concerns over Kenyans being lured with fake overseas job offers.
The CS noted that several victims had fallen prey to fraudulent agents promising lucrative opportunities, only to end up stranded or trapped in dangerous situations.
He revealed that some Kenyans who were deceived by such schemes ended up being caught in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war after being misled about the nature of the jobs they had signed up for.
Mutua urged job seekers to rely on official government channels for guidance and verification when seeking opportunities abroad and encouraged them to call the Ministry of Labour for advice before traveling.
