A family in Busia County is living in anguish after their son, a former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier, vanished months after travelling to Russia under what they now suspect was a human trafficking scheme.
Speaking in an interview with Citizen TV, the family of Oscar Agolla recalled that he had expressed a strong desire to travel abroad in search of better opportunities.
According to his relatives, a local agent approached him with what appeared to be a lucrative job offer in St. Petersburg, Russia.
“He told me that he had found a job in Russia and was preparing to leave soon,” his father, Charles Mutoka, narrated.
A few weeks after his departure, communication between Oscar and his family abruptly stopped.
Oscar Agolla’s last phone call came moments before he was allegedly deployed to the frontline.
“I’m sure he was recruited to the Ukraine–Russia war because the last call he made, he said he was waiting to be taken to the frontline. Since then, his number has been unreachable,” his sister Mary Olendo recalled.
The family’s fears have intensified amid reports of Kenyan nationals who have vanished under similar circumstances, allegedly after being trafficked and recruited to fight for the Russian army.
Meanwhile, Oscar Agolla’s family continues to appeal to government authorities for assistance in tracing their missing relative and bringing him home.
“We just want to know where our son is. Whether alive or dead, we deserve to know the truth,” his sister pleaded.
Recently, another Kenyan, Kevin Kariuki, was rescued from the warfront.
According to Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, Kariuki had been captured by Ukrainian forces before being released and repatriated to Kenya.
“A third Kenyan, Kevin Kariuki Nduma, irregularly conscripted to serve in the Russian military, is on his way back home. I commend our Mission in Moscow for the effort to rescue and repatriate Kenyans caught in this unfortunate and dangerous situation,” Sing’Oei said.
Oscar’s relatives now fear their son may have suffered a similar fate.
On September 27, Sing’Oei announced the rescue and repatriation of three Kenyans trapped in the conflict.
“Pleased to inform of the rescue and repatriation of three Kenyans: Shaquille Wambo, Pius Mwika, and Derick Njaga by our Mission in Moscow. The three are safe and on their way home to their families. Our Mission and our teams at headquarters are doing what we can to address the situation of those captured as prisoners of war. I thank Ambassador Peter Mathuki and the team,” Korir said.
