The Russian Federation embassy in Nairobi has dismissed reports that a Russian national, Mikhail Lyapin, was arrested and deported from Kenya in connection with a human trafficking investigation.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the embassy said Lyapin was only escorted to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Nairobi to provide a statement about his business activities. It added that he later left Kenya of his own accord, in line with his previous plans.
“Upon completing all necessary procedures, in the afternoon of September 26, Mr Lyapin, in accordance with his previous plans, left Kenya. Diplomats of the Russian Embassy in Nairobi provided the necessary consular and legal assistance to the Russian citizen, and also made sure that his legal rights were not violated,” the statement read.
The embassy stressed it had not received any official communication from Kenyan authorities about allegations against Lyapin, and noted that he had no ties to Russian government institutions or to the diplomatic mission in Nairobi.
The clarification followed widespread reports in local media suggesting Lyapin had been detained after police raided apartments in Nairobi where 22 Kenyan nationals were allegedly preparing to travel to Moscow. The BBC reported that recruitment materials, travel documents, and job offer letters were seized in the operation.
Kenyan authorities have separately detained Edward Kamau Gituku, a Kenyan national accused of running a trafficking ring that allegedly ferried victims to Russia. Gituku was ordered by Kahawa Law Courts to be held for ten days at Muthaiga Police Station while investigations continue.
Investigators suspect the group was luring Kenyans with promises of employment abroad, only for victims to face exploitation once they reached Russia.
